Africa's regional stakeholders conference on Neglected and Underutilised Species

9 - 11 June 2026. Accra, Ghana. NUS Africa's regional stakeholders conference. Co-organized by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the hybrid event focused on integrating neglected and underutilized “forgotten foods” (like millets, fonio, and sorghum) into African food systems.

The conference strongly aligned with GFAiR's Collective Action on Forgotten Foods by addressing policy integration, capacity strengthening, seed systems, breeding, market development, and multi-stakeholder partnerships for neglected and underutilized crops. Notably, GFAiR contributes directly through the presentation on embedding opportunity crops into education and capacity development systems, reinforcing GFAiR's role in knowledge exchange and innovation for resilient food systems.

The regional consultation for Africa highlighted the strategic role of opportunity crops in contributing to 

sustainable, nutrient-sensitive agrifood systems and climate-resilient agriculture in the region by: 

1. Assess the progress made in the implementation of the Africa manifesto and action plan on forgotten food. 
2. Reviewing and sharing national and regional experiences related to opportunity crops conservation, production, utilization, constraints, and opportunities. 
3. Discussing policy and institutional frameworks needed to enhance production, value chains, and utilization of opportunity crops. 
4. Developing a regional roadmap and collaborative action plan to maintain opportunity crops in food and agricultural policies. 
5. Strengthening partnerships among governments, research institutions, the private sector, and civil society for opportunity crops promotion. 

Day 1: Setting the Vision and Overcoming Barriers

Opening Session

• 
  Dr. Abebe Haile-Gabriel, FAO Regional Representative for Africa
• Dr. Aggrey Agumya, Executive Director, FARA
• Representative of Ghana's Ministry of Food and Agriculture 

Strategic Perspectives on Opportunity Crops

• Dr. Chikelu Mba (FAO): Unlocking Africa's Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
• Prof. Elbilali (IADC): Framework for integrating neglected and underutilized species into agrifood systems
• Dr. Clement Adjorlolo (AUDA-NEPAD): Scaling opportunity crops through coordinated policy action

Transitioning African Agrifood Systems

• Dr. Julia Sibiya (VACS): Opportunity crops for agrifood system transformation
• Madam Fatmata Binta (Dineonamat): African ingredients and cultural food value
• Prof. Wole Fatunbi (FARA): Progress report on the Africa Manifesto on Opportunity Crops/Forgotten Foods

Theme 1: Overcoming Barriers – Innovative Approaches

• 
  Dr. Abdou Tenkouano (ICIPE): Plant health solutions for opportunity crops
• Dr. Ousmane Ndoye (CORAF): Research development and networking
• Joe Mzinga (ESAFF): Mechanization pathways for smallholder systems

Theme 2: From Knowledge to Action

• Dr. Maureen Duru (The Food Bridge): Scaling nutrient-rich crops for food security
• Prof. Nelson Ojijo (JKUAT): Awareness raising and consumer recognition
• Olawunmi Benedict (GROW West Africa): Producer capacity building and agroecological transition
• Prof. Vincent Aduramigba (IAR&T/OAU): Capacity development instruments for NARES and institutions

Theme 3: Regional Actions and Networks

• Prof. Wole Fatunbi (FARA): Communities of practice and regional networks
• Ms. Ndèye Aïssatou Diop (CORAF): West and Central Africa experiences
• Mr. Moses Odeke (ASARECA): Eastern and Central Africa experiences
• Dr. Batholomeu Chataika (CCARDESA): Southern Africa experiences

Day 2: Conservation, Breeding, Seed Systems and Markets

Theme 4: On-Farm Diversity and Local Adaptation

• Dr. Carlo Fadda (Bioversity & CIAT): Managing crop diversity on farms
• Dr. Olakunle Sansa (IITA): Diversity for resilience
• Dr. Hillary Muginyo (Zimbabwe): Participatory breeding for locally adapted varieties

Theme 5: Conservation of Opportunity Crops

• Dr. Nora Castaneda (Crop Trust): Complementary conservation strategies
• Dr. Olaniyi Oyatomi (IITA): Linking on-farm and ex situ conservation
• Dr. Bissah Mathilda (PGRI-CSIR): Genetic resource conservation and germplasm exchange
• Andrew Mushita (CTDT-ZW): Community seed banks and local stewardship

Theme 6: Breeding for Nutrition and Resilience

• Prof. Enoch G. Achigan-Dako (UAC-Benin/AOCC/AfPBA): Collaborative breeding for forgotten foods
• Dr. Rita Mumm (AOCC): Strengthening plant breeding capacity in Africa
• Mr. Francois Stepman (GFAiR): Integrating opportunity crops into educational curricula

Theme 7: Seed Systems and Value Chains

• Yarama (GNRC): Registration of local varieties
• Edward Kilawe (FAO): Lessons from the One Country One Priority Product initiative
• Dr. Presidor Kendabie (NDU-Nigeria): Sustainable seed systems for forgotten foods

Theme 8: Building Markets and Business Cases

• Dr. Yacouba Diallo (AFSTA): Integrating orphan crops into seed trade systems
• Mr. John Cordaro (MARS/AOCC): Public-private pathways for opportunity crops
• Dr. Stefano Marras (Bayer): Private-sector innovation and investment
• Mr. Andrew Egala (GWB Kenya): Market access, short supply chains, and alternative retail models

Day 3: Developing the African Roadmap

Theme 9: Action-Based Roadmap for Opportunity Crops

Participants were divided into working groups to develop a continental roadmap and implementation agenda for integrating opportunity crops into African agrifood systems. This was followed by plenary presentations and discussions on recommendations and next steps. 

The consultation concluded with a synthesis by Dr. Chikelu Mba (FAO) and closing remarks from Dr. Aggrey Agumya (FARA) and Ms. Priya Gujadhur (FAO Ghana).