The 3rd International Conference on Neglected and Underutilized Species: For a Food-Secure Africa will take place in Accra, Ghana, from 23 to 25 September 2013.
The conference, co-organized by Bioversity International and partners, brings together research scientists, policy makers, entrepreneurs along the value chain, extension workers, development agencies and NGOs, nutritionists, educators and others interested in helping poor farmers to use so-called minor crops to improve their livelihoods and well being.
Only the formal sector regards these crops as neglected and underutilized; for smallholder farmers around the world, they are often the bedrock of production, being well-suited to marginal environments and adaptable to changing conditions.
They thus have an important part to play in boosting the resilience of fragile farming systems and thereby sustainably improving livelihoods.
However, all stakeholders still have much to learn from one another.
The Conference will promote knowledge sharing and debate under three umbrella themes: Resilience of agricultural and livelihood systems; Upgrading value chains of neglected and underutilized species; Creating an enabling environment.
The 2013 Conference follows successful events in Tanzania (2008) and Malaysia (2011) and will take place against a backdrop of growing international interest in these crops and the holistic approach to their use in the fight against poverty and malnutrition. Source: NUS2013
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