Global manifesto on forgotten foods

This Manifesto on Forgotten Foods1 is the result of a broad and intensive consultation process carried out in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East (see Annex 1 for the roadmap). It was facilitated by GFAR as part of its Collective Actions to Empower Farmers at the Center of Innovation; led by a coalition of Regional Research Organizations and their partners, in particular, AARINENA, APAARI, FARA; and supported by CFF, and the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. The content of this Manifesto is a landmark by presenting a coherent, multi-faceted but systemic, collective action-oriented proposal that covers research and innovation, and development (policy). The Manifesto aims to serve as a guide for the present and the future of forgotten foods. Its proponents call for a transformation of the agricultural research and innovation system through: change in research methodologies/paradigm; professional change; changes in the governance/ organization of development, research and innovation; changes in institutions; and changes in training/capacity building approaches and curricula. The Manifesto places smallholder farmers center stage, as producers and custodians of forgotten foods and related knowledge, agents of change and co-producers of (new) knowledge and practices. The Manifesto calls for concrete actions that contribute to achieve several of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, and to the ‘Right to Food’ and the ‘Right to Health’ embedded in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is also meant to be an invaluable input for the United Nations Food Systems Summit later in 2021.

The Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa (AARINENA); The Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI); Crops For the Future (CFF); The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA); The Global Forum for Agricultural Research and Innovation (GFAR); The Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT.