Overview:

The book explores the importance of orphan crops - also known as neglected and underutilized species (NUS) - in enhancing global food and nutrition security. It discusses challenges, opportunities, and strategies to promote these crops. The content is structured into six parts, covering topics such as conservation, value chains, nutritional benefits, and policy integration. It provides case studies from various regions, addressing agricultural biodiversity, climate resilience, and sustainable development. The book highlights the need to integrate orphan crops into food systems to improve dietary diversity, support smallholder farmers, and enhance resilience to climate change.

Key Findings:

• Nutritional and food security benefits: Orphan crops are rich in essential nutrients and can help combat malnutrition, particularly in developing countries.

• Climate resilience: Many of these crops are adapted to harsh and degraded environments, requiring less water and being more resistant to climate-related stresses compared to staple crops.

• Economic and social contributions: Encouraging the cultivation and commercialization of orphan crops can enhance farmers' livelihoods, promote gender equity, and preserve indigenous knowledge.

• Challenges in adoption: Despite their potential, orphan crops face obstacles such as limited research, lack of improved seed varieties, and weak market integration.

• Biodiversity and sustainability: Promoting NUS can contribute to agricultural biodiversity and ecosystem resilience by reducing dependency on a few major crops.

Recommandations

• Policy support: Governments should integrate orphan crops into national agricultural policies and provide incentives for research and development.

• Market development: Efforts should be made to improve the value chain of orphan crops, including processing, branding, and consumer awareness campaigns.

• Seed system strengthening: Investment in seed delivery systems and decentralized seed networks can improve access to high-quality planting material.

• Climate-smart agriculture: Encouraging climate-resilient farming practices and agroecological approaches can enhance the productivity and sustainability of orphan crops.

• Community engagement: Strengthening farmer cooperatives, providing training, and fostering traditional knowledge-sharing can help mainstream orphan crop.