Report of the consultative workshop on the structure and functioning of the African opportunity crops working group for the African seed and biotechnology programme

This report highlights the outcomes of a high-level consultative workshop convened under the EU-funded SUSTLIVES project, which promotes the strategic use of neglected and underutilized species (NUS)—now repositioned as “Opportunity Crops”—to enhance food and nutrition security, support resilient livelihoods, and contribute to climate adaptation in Burkina Faso and Niger.

Supported through the DeSIRA Initiative and coordinated by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) with technical leadership from CIHEAM-Bari, SUSTLIVES has made measurable progress in strengthening seed access, developing inclusive value chains, and shaping policy environments conducive to agrobiodiversity-based solutions. A key output of this project—facilitated by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT under Activity 3.4—was the advancement of a regional, multi-stakeholder platform (the African Opportunity Crops Working Group) aimed at scaling opportunity crops across Africa.

The workshop convened 24 participants from over 14 countries, including representatives from research organizations, universities, NGOs, and development partners. Its primary objective was to finalize the draft Terms of Reference for the African Opportunity Crops Working Group, which will be hosted by the African Seed and Biotechnology Partnership Platform (ASBPP).

The establishment of the ASBPP is rooted in the African Seed and Biotechnology Programme (ASBP), which was formally endorsed by the AU Assembly in 2007 (Assembly/AU/Dec.135(VIII)) as a strategic framework for guiding the development and modernization of Africa’s seed systems. Under the leadership of the African Union Commission (AUC), the 3rd Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment (STC-ARDWE) recommended the creation of an institutional framework to support ASBP implementation at national, regional, and continental levels. In response, the AUC’s Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture initiated a series of actions that culminated in the validation of the ASBPP. A central feature of this governance structure is the formation of specialized Working Groups (WGs), which will soon include the proposed African Opportunity Crops Working Group.

The workshop underscored strong momentum and political will to mainstream opportunity crops into national and continental strategies, aligning with broader goals on food systems transformation, climate resilience, and rural development.

Grazioli, F.; Otieno, G.; Mendonce, S.; Acasto, F.; El Bilali, H.