GFAiR’s Collective Action on Forgotten Foods (CA FF) brings farmers, researchers, civil society and private-sector actors together to revive neglected and underutilized species (NUS) by strengthening farmer-led conservation and traditional knowledge, research and innovation, markets and value chains, and policy support—thereby improving biodiversity, nutrition, climate resilience and farmers’ livelihoods.
Interview with Francois Stepman, Advisor Global Forum for Agriculture and Innovation Research.
The speaker discusses the importance of revitalizing local nutrition and agroecology in Africa to combat malnutrition and climate change.
Local promotion: Consumption of local produce
- The goal is to promote African culinary heritage (lentils, beans, local plants) to reduce reliance on imports of rice, milk, and wheat.
- The concept of "forgotten foods" is central to addressing biodiversity and malnutrition issues.
- Intergenerational initiatives involving young people from Ghana and Nigeria aim to pass on traditional recipes through cooking workshops.
Agroecological issues: Production and health challenges
- The excessive use of toxic pesticides, particularly in Benin, is linked to a rise in health problems such as cancer.
- A major debate remains: can agroecology feed Africa's rapidly growing population—such as Nigeria's 220 million inhabitants?
- Research must focus on the genetic potential of rare plants regarding their resilience to climate change.
Research directions: Funding and priorities
- There is a critical need to redirect funding (from the World Bank, the European Commission, and national governments) toward research on local produce.
- Priorities must shift from an economy focused solely on exports (cocoa, maize) to the revitalization of local resources.
- How can a balance be struck between the yield requirements of a growing population and the preservation of age-old agroecological methods?
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