International Treaty Highlights Opportunity Crops

World Food Forum 2024

FAO Headquarters, Rome, Italy, 16-17 October 2024 – “Opportunity Crops” took center stage at the World Food Forum Youth Culture Corner in the FAO atrium as youth speakers from the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture spoke to visitors about the important potential of these crops, also known as “forgotten/underutilized/orphan crops.” The side event, presented by the youth team from the Secretariat of the International Treaty, was “Opportunity Crops: Sowing the Seeds for Today and Tomorrow” and shone a light on the many benefits and potential nutritional, environmental and socio-economic opportunities such crops possess.

The Treaty’s youth team held two events during this year’s World Food Forum Flagship Event: an interactive presentation and multimedia exhibition in the Youth “Culture Corner” on the first day, followed by a hands-on “Discovery Station” designed for visiting school children on the second day.

Both Treaty events focused on how opportunity crops, often overlooked in global agricultural systems, can provide sustainable solutions for future food systems, particularly in the context of climate change. These food crops, which include climate-resilient crops such as quinoa, breadfruit, goosefoot, chickpea, lentil, millet, pigeon pea, have a long history of feeding communities around the world, yet remain underrepresented in the overall agricultural landscape. With their high nutritional value and adaptability to extreme climate conditions, Opportunity Crops can be key tools in ensuring food security. Several projects funded by the International Treaty’s Benefit-sharing Fund were showcased to demonstrate the importance of these crops and the role of the Treaty in supporting local rural communities and preserving cultural heritage and traditional foods.

Visitors also had the opportunity to explore the renowned Svalbard Global Seed Vault through a virtual reality tour, gaining a deeper understanding of the Seed Vault’s critical role in providing a secure back-up of plant genetic diversity for the future. They also had the chance to try the Treaty’s first interactive video game “Super Crops” to learn more about the power of Opportunity Crops to tackle food insecurity, fight climate change and promote sustainable agriculture.

In line with the World Food Forum’s 2024 theme of “Good Food for All: Today and Tomorrow,” the Treaty’s two side events, “Opportunity Crops: Sowing the Seeds for Today and Tomorrow,”  included contributions from a global youth ambassadress, Winnie Wambugu, whose insights and experience reinforced the importance of intergenerational collaboration to create more resilient and sustainable food systems. “As youth, we have the power to lead the way to a more sustainable future by utilizing opportunity crops in our daily lives,” said Winnie.

The International Treaty is committed to promoting the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, and to safeguarding agricultural biodiversity for future generations.

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