Steps to transform African opportunity crops into reality crops.
Rutsaert P, Achigan-Dako EG, Ayenan MAT, Chamberlin J, Daudi H
Summary
8.2/10This global initiative modernizes underutilized African crops like amaranth, finger millet, and taro to diversify food systems and build resilience against climate shocks and nutrition gaps. By combining market-driven strategies with grassroots science networks, the approach aims to turn these 'opportunity crops' into scalable solutions for more stable, resilient global agriculture.
Key Findings
VACS (Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils) targets seven African opportunity crops—amaranth, Bambara groundnut, finger millet, okra, pigeon pea, sesame, and taro—to reduce agriculture's reliance on a few staple crops.
The initiative combines market-guided prioritization and long-term breeding strategy led by grassroots science networks to translate crop potential into scalable impact.
Diversifying crops addresses multiple global vulnerabilities including climate shocks, biodiversity loss, and nutritional gaps in current food systems.
Original Abstract
Reliance on a few staple crops makes global agriculture vulnerable to climate shocks, biodiversity loss and nutrition gaps. The Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS), a global initiative to build resilient food systems, addresses this imbalance by modernizing market orientation, breeding, and capacity for opportunity crops such as amaranth, Bambara groundnut, finger millet, okra, pigeon pea, sesame, and taro. We advocate for a business unusual approach characterized by market guided prioritization and long-term breeding strategy, led by grassroots science networks. VACS applies lessons from major crop programs to translate potential into scalable impact.
Species Mentioned
Amaranthus is a genus of plants commonly known as amaranths. Some species are known by variants of the common name "pigweed". Some members are annual and others are perennial. The plant can grow from 1 to 2.5 metres tall with a succulent, hollow stem. Parts of the plant vary from green to reddish...
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