Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) played host to a pivotal workshop on August 6, 2025, where agricultural scientists and policy experts from across Africa and Europe rallied behind a powerful message: Africa must embrace its indigenous crops to secure its food systems, improve nutrition, and build climate resilience.

The high-level gathering, convened under the European Union-supported ORPHAN Project, brought together delegates from five African nations and Belgium. Their shared mission: to reposition Africa’s “orphan crops”—nutrient-rich, climate-resilient traditional staples—as strategic assets in the continent’s agricultural transformation.

Rediscovering Africa’s Forgotten Superfoods

Often overlooked in commercial agriculture, crops like Bambara groundnut, fonio, African eggplant, and spider plant are deeply embedded in African culinary traditions. These hardy species thrive in marginal conditions, resist pests, and require minimal inputs—making them ideal allies in the fight against climate change and soil degradation.

“These crops are more than just food—they’re solutions,” said Prof. Robert Kinyua, Acting Vice Chancellor of JKUAT, who officially opened the workshop. “Their nutritional value addresses malnutrition, while their local availability supports inclusive economic growth.”

Yet despite their promise, orphan crops remain under-researched and underutilized. Prof. Kinyua called for multidisciplinary innovation to integrate these crops into mainstream farming systems, develop value-added processing techniques, and raise consumer awareness to stimulate demand.

Building Capacity for Climate-Smart Agriculture

The ORPHAN Project—formally titled Intra-Africa Mobility for High-Skilled Scientists and Entrepreneurs on Orphan Crops in Higher Education for Accelerated Climate Change Solutions—was launched in 2024 to address these gaps. Led by Prof. Kévin Kouamé Koffi of University Nangui Abrogoua in Côte d’Ivoire, the initiative aims to cultivate a new generation of researchers and entrepreneurs focused on neglected crops.

To date, 11 PhD and seven MSc students have been enrolled across five African universities, with plans to train 12 PhD graduates, 32 MSc graduates, 10 academic staff, and 10 technical trainees in plant breeding, food technology, and nutrition.

“The goal is not just academic,” Prof. Koffi emphasized. “We’re building a pan-African network to elevate orphan crops, foster regional collaboration, and position Africa as a global leader in sustainable agriculture.”

A Strategic Imperative for Africa’s Future

With 31 of the 36 countries facing high hidden hunger indices located in Africa, the stakes are urgent. Orphan crops—rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants—offer a sustainable pathway to combat stunting and micronutrient deficiencies.

Workshop participants issued a strong call to action for governments, private sector actors, and development agencies to embed orphan crops into agricultural policy and value chains. Key strategies include improving seed access, enhancing market visibility, and empowering smallholder farmers—especially women—to scale production and income.

A Continental Collaboration

The ORPHAN Project is implemented by a consortium of institutions:

• Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kenya
• University Nangui Abrogoua (UNA), Côte d’Ivoire
• University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Benin
• Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Nigeria
• University of Zimbabwe (UZ), Zimbabwe
• Catholic University of Louvain (UCLouvain), Belgium

As Africa confronts the dual challenges of food insecurity and climate volatility, its indigenous crops may well be the continent’s most underappreciated resource. The ORPHAN Project is proving that with the right investment in research, education, and policy reform, these crops can nourish both people and planet.