Tackling the crisis of neglect:
Scientists call for urgent action on traditional African vegetables

Amaranth from Africa’s Vegetable Genebank growing in Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania. Pic by Neil Palmer for the Crop Trust

Africa’s “forgotten” vegetables – hardy, nutritious, and deeply rooted in local traditions – can play a critical role in tackling some of the continent’s food and nutrition challenges. Yet these crops remain caught in a crisis of neglect, overlooked in research, policy, and investment – that’s the warning from a team of experts writing in the journal Food Security.

They argue that the situation has left African vegetables vulnerable on multiple fronts: Underrepresented in the continent’s genebanks, they receive little research funding compared to global staples like rice and maize, and are often sidelined in agricultural policy. As a result, many traditional varieties have disappeared from fields and markets, putting their unique traits – from drought tolerance to high nutrient content – at risk of being lost forever.

With this in mind, the authors outline the importance of the Africa Vegetable Biodiversity Rescue Plan – a bold ten-year roadmap developed by the African Union Commission and partners including the World Vegetable Center – to strengthen conservation systems and put neglected crops back at the centre of Africa’s food future.

Nutritious, resilient – but overlooked

Africa is home to more than 400 local vegetable species, from African eggplant and nightshade to okra, amaranth, and jute mallow. They are rich in micronutrients, often better adapted to local climates than many imported types, and popular in local markets. 

“These are not just vegetables – they are opportunity crops,” said lead author Sognigbe N’Danikou, a scientist specializing in the conservation and use of traditional vegetables and at the World Vegetable Center, and head of Africa’s Vegetable Genebank – the organization’s crop conservation facility in Arusha, Tanzania. “They can transform African diets, incomes, and resilience to climate change if we act now.”

But the paper highlights a stark reality: Vegetables make up less than 10% of the world’s genebank holdings, with only 30% of regionally important African vegetables conserved in genebanks. Where collections do exist, they tend to prioritize cereals over local vegetables. 

The authors warn that the survival of some of these vegetables is under threat, with many traditional varieties vanishing as farmers switch to imported seeds. This loss of diversity – known as genetic erosion – means fewer options for future farming, and risks the disappearance of traits like drought tolerance, pest resistance, and unique flavors.

“We need to recognize this for what it is: a crisis of neglect, and one that threatens Africa’s ability to feed itself healthily and sustainably,” said N’Danikou. 

Accordingly, he and his co-authors – representing the African Union Development Agency, African universities, and the Global Crop Diversity Trust – note the need for urgent action on multiple fronts. The African Biodiversity Rescue Plan, endorsed by the African Union in 2024, lays out a coordinated strategy to collect, conserve, and promote the use of African vegetables. It makes the case for urgent funding for infrastructure, policy reform, and education to reverse decades of underinvestment in the vegetable conservation and use sector. The authors stress that only through political will, investment, and community engagement can this diversity be safeguarded for future generations and embedded at the heart of Africa’s food system transformation.

Download the Africa Biodiversity Rescue Plan.

Click to read the article in Food Frontiers: N’Danikou, S., Aikpokpodion, P.O., Adjorlolo, C., Sibanda, L.M., & Guarino, L. (2025). Science for Africa’s future food security: necessary steps to incorporate African vegetable biodiversity in food security. Food Security.

See also: Eswatini’s vegetable seeds reach their second home at Africa’s Vegetable Genebank.