Browsing by Author "FAO, FARA"

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Compendium of Forgotten Foods in Africa
(FAO, 2024) FAO, FARA
The Compendium of Forgotten Foods in Africa is a comprehensive reference resource documenting 100 forgotten food crops prioritized by stakeholders across Africa. Developed by FAO and FARA, the publication provides detailed information on botanical classification, agroecological suitability, agronomic requirements, nutritional composition, traditional and medicinal uses, and value-addition opportunities for a wide range of indigenous African food species. The compendium was produced as a response to the United Nations Food Systems Summit and the Global Manifesto on Forgotten Foods, providing evidence-based information to support the integration of forgotten foods into African food systems. It contributes to efforts aimed at improving access to nutritious foods, promoting sustainable consumption patterns, strengthening nature-positive food production systems, advancing equitable livelihoods, and enhancing resilience to shocks and climate-related challenges. Designed as a practical sourcebook, the publication serves researchers, nutritionists, policymakers, development practitioners, and other stakeholders seeking to promote, conserve, research, and commercialize Africa’s forgotten foods as part of broader food systems transformation initiatives.
Proposed Roadmap for Integrating Opportunity Crops 2026–2035
(FARA, 2026-08) FAO, FARA
Africa's agrifood systems depend on a narrow range of staples, although the continent holds many indigenous crops with nutritional, climatic, cultural and economic value. Building on commitments from the 2003 Maputo and 2014 Malabo declarations, the 2013 Accra Statement, the Africa Manifesto on Forgotten Foods and the Kampala CAADP agenda, the roadmap aims to turn advocacy into coordinated, measurable action. Its vision is that, by 2035, identified opportunity crops are routinely conserved, improved, produced, traded, processed and consumed. Seven interlinked priorities run from conservation, research and seed delivery to value chains, policy and finance mainstreaming, capacity and coordinated delivery. Countries select crop portfolios against transparent criteria and review them every three years. Implementation runs in three phases: organize and prepare (2026–27), scale and validate (2028–30), and institutionalize and sustain (2031–35). A continental–regional–national coordination model uses existing mandates, with financing organized by portfolio rather than by isolated project. Progress is tracked through an annual continental scorecard and portfolio reviews in 2027, 2030 and 2035.
Regional Consultation on Opportunity Crops in Africa: Book of Extended Abstracts
(FAO, FARA, 2026-08) FAO, FARA
The Regional Consultation on Opportunity Crops in Africa: Book of Extended Abstracts brings together scientific, technical, policy, institutional, and market-oriented contributions presented during the Regional Consultation on Opportunity Crops in Africa, convened by FAO and FARA in Accra, Ghana, from 9 to 11 June 2026. The consultation focused on repositioning indigenous, traditional, neglected, and underutilized crops as strategic assets for Africa's agrifood systems transformation. The volume examines practical pathways for integrating opportunity crops into research, breeding, seed systems, production, mechanization, markets, nutrition, education, policy, and public investment. It highlights the potential of these crops to contribute to dietary diversity, nutrition security, climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods, cultural preservation, and inclusive economic development. Organized into four thematic sections, the publication presents evidence and perspectives on strategic framing and institutional transformation; conservation, genetic resources, seed systems and breeding; production systems, agronomy and mechanization; and nutrition, markets, value addition and consumer uptake. Collectively, the contributions provide a multidisciplinary evidence base for translating continental commitments on opportunity crops into coordinated research, policy, investment, and scaling actions.
Report of the Regional Consultation on Opportunity Crops in Africa
(FARA, 2026-08) FAO, FARA
FAO and FARA convened a three-day hybrid consultation in Accra with researchers, policymakers, universities, development partners, farmer organizations, private-sector actors and regional institutions. The aim was a unified continental vision for indigenous and traditionally cultivated crops in Africa's agrifood systems. Participants agreed that "opportunity crops" conveys these species' strategic value better than "orphan" or "neglected". They also agreed that conservation alone is insufficient: benefits depend on coordinated investment across genetic resources, breeding, seed systems, value addition, markets, education, policy and finance. Sessions covered genetic resources, breeding for resilience, seed systems, market creation and the enabling environment. Working groups set seven strategic priorities: conserve and mobilize genetic resources; accelerate research and crop improvement; build inclusive seed systems; develop competitive value chains; mainstream the crops in policy and investment; strengthen human and institutional capacity; and establish coordinated continental implementation. The report closes with recommendations for governments, research institutions, universities, financing partners, the private sector, farmer organizations and regional bodies.
Stakeholder Mapping for Integration of Opportunity Crops into African Food Systems
(FARA, 2026-08) FAO, FARA
The report maps organizations working on opportunity crops, forgotten foods and neglected and underutilized species (NUS) to inform an Africa-wide directory and Community of Practice. A purposive online survey yielded 84 complete institutional responses: 73 from 15 African countries, led by Nigeria (33), and 11 from outside Africa. The ecosystem is research-heavy: 67 respondents (79.8%) identify with research and academia, while farmer organizations, financiers and market actors are under-represented. Most organizations do research (69), farmer training (60) and production support (47); far fewer do aggregation (11), trading (8) or financing (8). The most reported species are indigenous leafy vegetables, traditional fruits and nuts, sorghum, Bambara groundnut and cowpea. Lack of funding is the main constraint (94.0%), and 33 organizations report annual NUS budgets under USD 10,000. Support for a continental platform is strong: 79 respondents (94.0%) would join one. The report proposes a seven-point action matrix: a Community of Practice, a governed directory, a catalytic financing facility, crop and value-chain clusters, policy and procurement work, consumer demand building, and a shared evidence framework.