Theme 1: Resilience of agricultural and livelihood systems.

a) Diversification for food security in Sub-Saharan Africa.

This sub-theme will address the role of neglected and underutilized species in resilient food production systems in Africa. Contributions will review practices and lessons learnt on how NUS are deployed by farmers to reduce biotic and abiotic risks, including adapting to climate change.  Analyses of challenges, needs and opportunities for scaling up and mainstreaming these efforts for wider impact will also be included.

b) NUS for nutrition and health.

The nutritional and health value of local crops. Many NUS species are known to be of very high nutritional value and to play a strategic role in sustainable food systems. Contributions to this theme will attempt to quantify such benefits.

Theme 2: Upgrading value chains of neglected and underutilized species.

Successful income generation from NUS relies on effective value-addition strategies that take a systems perspective and involve multiple stakeholders. Papers in this theme will present experience and lessons learned related to production, processing and marketing of NUS and how these efforts have benefited, or can benefit, smallholder farmers in particular. Aspects to be considered include seed systems, storage, value addition and marketing. The role of three levels of value chain actors – operators, service providers, and regulating and policy institutions – will be explored.

Theme 3: Creating an enabling policy environment.

a) Policy frameworks.

For the enhanced utilization of NUS species, policy interventions are crucial. Papers under the sub-theme will present policy issues that may promote or hinder enhanced use of NUS in Africa and share experience of how these have been addressed. Contributions will cover both national and international policy and provide recommendations for actions that support the promotion of NUS in the various areas covered in the conference including crop production, nutrition, marketing, education and climate change.

b) Capacity development and institutions.

Capacity development in higher education, research and development (R&D) is critical for innovation. This sub-theme will explore how educational programmes and institutions involved in building capacity of researchers and extension workers can be strengthened for effective R&D and better use of NUS in Africa.

c) Partnership, projects, platforms..

This sub-theme will address the latest developments in the area of cooperation for NUS in Africa. The objective is to review existing efforts at both national and international levels to promote synergy and avoid unnecessary duplication of work. Contributions detailing successful experience from other regions will be also presented along with reflections on opportunities for North-South and South-South cooperation in NUS research.

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