Forgotten Foods Gain Momentum in Global Indigenous Food Systems Debate

The global conversation on Indigenous Peoples' food systems is increasingly recognizing that Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS) are far more than "forgotten crops"—they are fundamental building blocks of biodiversity, nutrition, cultural identity, and climate resilience. 

The draft HLPE-FSN Report #21 on Preserving, strengthening and promoting Indigenous Peoples' food and knowledge systems and traditional practices for sustainable food systems (101 p.) provides an important step forward by emphasizing the central role of Indigenous knowledge, territories, biodiversity and food sovereignty in transforming global food systems. The draft recognizes that Indigenous food systems offer diverse, nutritious and resilient alternatives to the narrow dependence on a handful of staple crops and highlights their potential to inform sustainable agricultural transformation.

While the draft acknowledges biodiversity and references underutilized crops in its bibliography, the
public consultation  15 May to 26 June 2026  (DEADLINE EXTENDED) demonstrates that many experts believe the report should place NUS at the heart of its policy recommendations rather than treating them as supporting examples. 

Several contributors argue that Indigenous food systems represent living reservoirs of neglected crops whose nutritional, ecological and cultural values remain largely invisible in mainstream agricultural policies. 

• One contributor specifically recommends that agroecology and Neglected and Under-utilized Species should be framed as a policy bridge between Indigenous Peoples' food systems and conventional food systems, drawing on the IFAD–Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT framework and the accompanying "How-to-Do" notes on NUS. 
• The comments also recommend referencing the IFAD Digital Toolbox on Sustainable and Indigenous Peoples' Food Systems and strengthening the report's discussion of urban Indigenous food sovereignty and intercultural education.
  

Other submissions reinforce this message from different regional perspectives. 

• Contributors from India highlight how Indigenous farming systems maintain exceptional agrobiodiversity while reducing dependence on external inputs and improving climate resilience. They recommend that the report include stronger evidence linking crop diversity, heirloom seeds, dietary diversity, women's nutrition, youth engagement and resilience indicators, demonstrating that Indigenous food systems provide practical solutions to today's food system challenges rather than simply preserving cultural heritage.

The consultation also broadens the discussion from production to nutrition. 

• One contribution recommends explicitly recognizing the contribution of traditional neglected crops with nutraceutical properties—such as chia, epazote and stevia—to healthier diets and preventive healthcare. 
• These examples illustrate how many Indigenous foods combine cultural significance with scientifically recognized nutritional benefits, reinforcing the report's objective of connecting Indigenous knowledge with modern food system transformation.

Taken together, the draft report and the consultation responses send a clear signal: future food systems will require far greater investment in Indigenous knowledge and forgotten crops. 

For initiatives such as GFAiR's Collective Action on Forgotten Foods, the consultation provides strong international validation for promoting NUS through research, education, value-chain development and policy dialogue. 

• Rather than remaining niche crops, Bambara groundnut, finger millet, African leafy vegetables and many other Indigenous species can become strategic assets for addressing climate adaptation, dietary diversity, rural livelihoods and biodiversity conservation. 
• The forthcoming final HLPE-FSN report therefore represents an important opportunity to elevate NUS from an underrepresented theme to a central pillar of global food system transformation.