Facilitating the Wider Use of Underutilised Crops

We need to look at underutilized crops because they are strategic assets for enhancing food security, improving livelihoods, and combating climate change. These crops are often highly nutritious, sometimes more so than common traditional crops, and can possess medicinal properties. Many underutilized species are climate-resilient, stress-tolerant, and can adapt easily to various environments with few inputs, making them crucial in the face of shrinking food baskets and increasing food and nutrition insecurity globally. Furthermore, promoting these crops can create new market opportunities, especially for small-scale farmers and indigenous communities, by connecting them to markets for these high-value, traditional products that boast unique culinary features, colors, and flavors. Despite their potential, many of these crops face challenges such as low awareness, limited market access, and the cultural perception of being "food of the poor," leading to a decline in their use and the loss of associated traditional knowledge.