Steps to transform African opportunity crops into reality crops.
Rutsaert P, Achigan-Dako EG, Ayenan MAT, Chamberlin J, Daudi H
Crop Improvement
Foods we rely on are increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather, and investing in hardier, nutrient-rich crops like okra and pigeon pea could mean more stable, diverse options at your grocery store and on your plate.
Right now, the world depends on just a handful of crops like wheat, rice, and corn — and that's a problem when droughts or diseases hit. Scientists and farmers are championing a group of tough, nutritious plants that have fed African communities for centuries but never got the same investment as major crops. This initiative is pushing to change that by building better seeds, connecting farmers to markets, and letting local scientists lead the way.
Key Findings
Global food systems are dangerously dependent on a small number of staple crops, leaving them exposed to climate shocks and nutritional gaps.
Seven specific opportunity crops — amaranth, Bambara groundnut, finger millet, okra, pigeon pea, sesame, and taro — are identified as high-priority targets for modernized breeding and market development.
The VACS initiative applies lessons from successful major crop programs, advocating for market-guided prioritization and grassroots science networks to scale impact.
chevron_right Technical Summary
A global initiative called VACS is working to bring neglected African crops like amaranth, finger millet, and taro into mainstream agriculture to make food systems more resilient to climate change and improve nutrition.
Abstract Preview
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 bui...
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