The webinar examined how NUS could support the transition toward more sustainable, resilient, and nutrition-sensitive agrifood systems. It highlighted the role of these crops in enhancing dietary diversity, strengthening climate resilience, and conserving biodiversity, while also contributing to local economic development through diversified value chains.
The webinar addressed the need to better integrate NUS into policy frameworks and innovation agendas, linking research, practice, and policy processes. Participants emphasized the importance of improving post-harvest handling and value addition, as well as strengthening the science–policy–practice interface to support scaling. The discussions underscored both the potential of NUS and the remaining knowledge gaps, particularly in relation to processing, storage, and market integration.
Speakers:
- Sayed Azam-Ali, CEO, Crops For the Future CFF; Chair UN High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition; Chair (Emeritus) Global Food Security, University of Nottingham.-Importance of neglected and underutilised species: why do they matter?”
- Hamid El Bilali, Researcher, CIHEAM Bari From SUSTLIVES to AgriEcoNUS+: Scaling Agrobiodiversity and NUS-Based Food Systems in Africa”
- NUS from a value chain development perspective”, by Emmanuel Msuya, Marketing Programme Officer, SWISSAID Tanzania
Comment of Maureen Duru, coordinator of the GFAiR Collective Action on Forgotten Foods:
"How will all these interventions ensure that communities especially in Africa, who are custodians of many NUS, retain ownership and control over their genetic resources and traditional knowledge? Are there safeguards are in place to prevent biopiracy or unfair commercialization of African indigenous crops? If these are not in place, we will still have a system that that takes from the continent for the benefit of others."
"Can the EU or relevant projects also explore integrating African diaspora entrepreneurs as key actors in developing NUS value chains between Africa and Europe. The diaspora food markets have been sustaining farmers, processors and marketers working on NUS for years".
Highlight: Main brands producing Bambara groundnut value-added products
CPUT is looking to create a manufacturing business, vertically integrating with other sectors in the country. It is currently looking for investors to partner with us to take this business opportunity forward.
🥢 WhatIF Foods (Singapore)
- 👉 This Singapore-based startup is the pioneer in commercializing Bambara-based noodles globally
Products:
- BAMnut instant noodles (“Only Noods”)
- Variants include pumpkin, moringa, charcoal, etc.
Key features:
- Made from Bambara groundnut flour (“BamNut”)
- High protein (~16–17g per serving) and high fiber
- Produced using air-frying instead of deep frying (no palm oil)
Resources:
Hamid El Bilali et all (2024) Mapping Research on Bambara Groundnut in Africa Bibliometric, Geographical, and Topical Perspectives 33 p.
Reviews 180 scientific publications on Bambara groundnut across Africa. This article shows its strong potential for:
- food & nutrition security
- climate resilience
- livelihoods
- Identifies major gaps:
- weak research coverage in key producing countries
- limited work on markets, processing, and socio-economics
Hamid El Bilali et all (2020) Orphan crops in Burkina Faso and Niger: a systematic review
Analyses Bambara groundnut as a neglected and underutilized species (NUS). This article highlights key constraints:
- low productivity
- lack of improved varieties
- weak agronomic practices
Hamid El Bilali et all (2026) NEGLECTED AND UNDERUTILIZED CROP SPECIES (NUS) AND AGROECOLOGY IN WEST AFRICA 13 p.
Background
SUSTLIVES (August 2021 - July 2025)
SUSTLIVES focused on promoting sustainable livelihoods through the valorisation of neglected and underutilised species (NUS), with particular emphasis on strengthening local value chains, improving nutrition, and enhancing resilience to climate change.
- The project worked closely with smallholder farmers and local enterprises to develop sustainable production, processing, and marketing strategies, while fostering multi-actor collaboration among research, policy, and private sector stakeholders.
- By integrating agroecological principles and supporting capacity development, SUSTLIVES contributed to more inclusive and diversified agrifood systems, particularly in vulnerable regions.
- It promoted diversified farming systems, soil health restoration, and climate-smart practices while integrating socio-economic dimensions such as income diversification, gender inclusion, and local value chains.
- A key feature of SUSTLIVES was its use of living labs and co-creation with farmers, ensuring that innovations are locally adapted and scalable. The project ultimately aims to strengthen livelihoods while contributing to broader food systems transformation and environmental sustainability.
AgriEcoNUS+ (start February 2026)
AgriEcoNUS+ (Enhancing value chains and markets of Neglected and Underutilized crop Species to contribute to Agroecological transition in Africa), is to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of local agri-food systems in partner countries by promoting agroecological principles and the valorisation of neglected and underutilised species (NUS), with a focus on climate change adaptation and socio-economic shocks.
- Implementing partners: AICS, IFAD, CIHEAM-Bari (Centre International de Hautes Études Agronomiques MĂ©diterranĂ©ennes – Institut Agronomique MĂ©diterranĂ©en de Bari), and SWISSAID.
- Development and International Agencies: Alliance Bioversity International– CIAT (ABC), FiBL;
- Regional Organisations: CORAF, ROPPA, 3AO alliance, AFSA;
- African Universities & Research Institutes: UJKZ (Burkina Faso), UAM (Niger), UG (Ghana), UPGC (CĂ´te d’Ivoire), ISRA (Senegal), TARI (Tanzania), SUA (Tanzania), Bio-Innovation Zimbabwe, etc
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