Forgotten crops, future crops? Perspectives and potential of minor varieties and underutilised crops in diversified food systems

Abstract

The ongoing global decline in agrobiodiversity poses significant threats to the long-term sustainability of food security. Currently, the vast majority of global calorie production relies on just a handful of commercial crop species, while thousands of traditional varieties and minor species remain underutilised. Unlocking the potential of these overlooked genetic resources through innovative approaches offers a promising pathway to enhance food and nutrition security and improve resilience across the food systems. However, reintroducing forgotten crops into contemporary food systems is limited by numerous systemic challenges. This study explores the barriers and facilitators inherent to these crops, namely inconsistent nomenclature, misaligned policy frameworks, supply chain disruptions, and the physicochemical variability of traditional varieties. At the same time, factors such as higher nutritional density, unique organoleptic characteristics, deep socio-cultural connections, and emerging market opportunities support their wider adoption. Shifting food systems towards greater diversification with forgotten crops demands a holistic and multidisciplinary approach that integrates agronomy, policy, economics, food science, and ethnobotanical studies. Without addressing these complex and interconnected barriers, efforts to revitalise agrobiodiversity initiatives remain fragmented and inadequately matched against systemic risks. As such, there is an urgent need for coordinated strategies that recognise the full value of these crops and systematically overcome the obstacles for food systems transformation.