The African Orphan Crops Consortium has announced the names of one hundred species that will be researched over the coming years in an effort to improve food security and nutrition for smallholder farmers in Africa.
The first species to be considered by the Consortium will be the Baobab.
20 January 2014: The African Orphan Crops Consortium has announced the names of one hundred species that will be researched over the coming years in an effort to improve food security and nutrition for smallholder farmers in Africa. The first species to be considered by the Consortium will be the Baobab.
The “orphan crops” under consideration represent species that are grown across Africa, but have been largely ignored by science due to their small role in trade. The project will train 250 plant breeders and technicians over five years and will develop improved plant materials for smallholder farmers. The Consortium has released the names of the species to encourage researchers globally to suggest research needs for crops on the list.
Project work will be carried out through the African Plant Breeding Academy, which was established by the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) in December 2013. The Consortium is comprised of a range of organizations hailing from the private sector, academic institutions and intergovernmental organizations, including ICRAF. ICRAF is a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). [ICRAF Press Release] [African Orphan Crops Consortium]