As World Food Day approaches on October 16, the Crop Trust’s Power of Diversity Funding Facility is highlighting the outcomes of national consultations with stakeholders. These consultations aimed to identify “opportunity crops” that enhance nutrition, bolster resilience, and support local economies—all essential components for a more secure food future.
Bonn, Germany, Oct. 14, 2025 – India’s horse gram and Nigeria’s ancient grain fonio are among a notable variety of “opportunity crops” earmarked for particular focus in the coming years by over 250 farmers, scientists, and policymakers across seven countries. This signifies the successful conclusion of the vital initial phase of the work of the Power of Diversity Funding Facility, an ambitious global undertaking launched by the Crop Trust earlier this year.
Backed by €10 million from Germany via KfW Development Bank and €2 million from Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs, the Funding Facility will champion the conservation, production, and consumption of high-potential opportunity crops. These plants are inherently resilient, rich in nutrients, and deeply rooted in local customs—yet they have historically been overlooked by research and investment. Until now.
In the participating nations, national partners orchestrated inclusive dialogues that brought together farmers, researchers, and policymakers to determine which crops should be prioritized. This process received support from the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, which leveraged decades of expertise concerning neglected and underutilized crops, particularly within Africa.
- Colombia – Agrosavia, with the backing of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, led discussions that emphasized peach palm and chayote for their significant nutritional value and untapped market prospects.
- Nigeria – The National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB) guided a process that singled out fonio and pigeon pea, both acknowledged for their role in enhancing resilience and contributing to food security in both rural and urban diets.
- Zambia – Experts and farmers, convened by the Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI), selected cowpea and sorghum—crops capable of enduring challenging conditions while still providing dependable nutrition.
- Kenya – The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) coordinated a dialogue that elevated amaranth, valued for both its leaves and grains, and finger millet, lauded for its versatility and cultural significance.
- India – The M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) gathered diverse voices that underscored horse gram and yams—traditional staples now requiring renewed research attention.
- Tanzania – The Tanzania Agricultural Research Institute (TARI), collaborating with the Crop Trust’s BOLDER initiative, facilitated a broad consultation that identified finger millet, Bambara groundnut, moringa, sweetpotato (especially its leaves), and jute mallow as priority crops for both nutritional benefits and resilience.
- Uganda – Also in partnership with BOLDER, the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) led a process that selected jackfruit, pearl millet, pumpkin, cowpea, and amaranth for their current dietary contributions and their potential to expand economic opportunities for smallholder farmers.
The subsequent phase of the Power of Diversity Funding Facility will build on this momentum, according to Nico Wilms-Posen, who coordinates the Funding Facility. Project endeavors will concentrate on securing the diversity of the selected crops within genebanks and ensuring its accessibility to breeders and farmers.
Concurrently, the project aims to bolster value chains by improving seed availability, conducting nutritional studies, and engaging with consumers to promote these crops. Knowledge will also be disseminated to national policymakers to assist in giving opportunity crops the recognition they merit, both within the partner countries and beyond.
“These crops were chosen by those most intimately familiar with their farming and food systems,” stated Dr. Stefan Schmitz, Executive Director of the Crop Trust. “By concentrating on opportunity crops, we can address the challenges confronting tomorrow’s food systems. These crops possess the potential to create economic opportunities for farmers and provide immediate advantages to communities, all while safeguarding the future of food.”
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About the Crop Trust
The Crop Trust is an international organization dedicated to conserving crop diversity and thereby protecting global food and nutrition security. At the heart of the Crop Trust is an endowment fund committed to providing guaranteed long-term financial support to crucial genebanks worldwide. The Crop Trust supports the Svalbard Global Seed Vault and coordinates extensive projects globally to secure crop diversity and make it available for use, universally and perpetually for the benefit of everyone. The Crop Trust is recognized as a fundamental component of the funding strategy for the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Learn more at
About the Power of Diversity Funding Facility
The Power of Diversity Funding Facility is a multi-donor initiative managed by the Crop Trust, dedicated to conserving, cultivating, and promoting the consumption of relatively overlooked opportunity crops across Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Learn more:
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CONTACT: Petra Pajdakovic Crop Trust petra.pajdakovic@croptrust.org
