Modern agricultural systems in sub-Saharan Africa depend on a paltry one percent of the crop diversity available, to feed 60 percent of the population. This has caused unprecedented strain on existing resources leading to alarming food and nutritional insecurity. Africa’s agri-food systems situation has further been aggravated by the negative effects of climate change in the backdrop of a growing population.
As a response to the undesirable prevailing conditions, six universities in Africa and Belgium have embarked on an ambitious international project to reposition orphan plant species of Africa as a solution to food, health and climate change impacts. The €1,796,820 Intra-Africa mobility for high skilled scientists and entrepreneurs on orphan crops in higher education for accelerated climate change solutions in Africa project is funded by the European Union; and covers 2024-2027 period.
Dubbed the ORPHAN project, the initiative focuses on promoting orphan crops as a solution to climate change and food security issues in Africa. It aims to enhance skills and qualifications of scientists and entrepreneurs; train professionals in orphan crops, and improve the value chain of the crops, particularly in Africa.
The continent is home to a huge variety of indigenous species known as orphan crops that have the potential to address food scarcity and malnutrition caused by climate change due to their adaptability and nutritional value in low-input agricultural systems. Unfortunately, the crops have attracted very limited modern scientific and technological attention.
Some of the crops already prioritised by the Project include Bambara groundnut, amaranth, mung bean, African nightshade, jute mallow, finger millet, yam, sesame, and taro.
Under the overall coordination by Prof. Kévin Kouamé Koffi, from the University Nangui Abrogoua in Ivory Coast, the ORPHAN Project is seeking to reverse these trends through three approaches namely: capacity building, training curriculum harmonization and international partnerships.
According to Prof. Mary Abukutsa, of the Department of Horticulture and Food Security and the JKUAT Local Coordinator, the Project is well positioned to accelerate the realization of sustainable development goals through food and nutrition security while clawing back the climate challenge.
She noted that students enrolled at JKUAT in Food Science and Nutrition and Plant breeding Programs, through the Project, have demonstrated high quality academic rigour and commitment, to accomplish line objectives of the transcontinental initiative. The ORPHAN project aims to increase skills and qualifications of current and future professionals and practitioners in orphan crops as solutions to climate change
“At the end of the Project, we hope to see a transformed value chain for the neglected African crops, in line with the aspirations of the ORPHAN Project. The participating institutions have the requisite capacity to leverage collaborative research and make a difference,” Prof. Abukutsa said.
On the capacity building track, the Project plans to train 12 high-profile doctorate graduates; 32 masters graduates; 10 academic staff and 10 trainees with skills in plant breeding; and food technology and nutrition, to address current and future challenges related to climate change and agri-food systems with a focus on promising orphan plant species of Africa.
The second priority area regards efforts to harmonize training programs and research agenda on the improvement of the value chain of orphan crops for food and nutrition security in Africa; while the third pillar seeks to enhance national, regional, and international collaboration on orphan crops research and training for agricultural innovations in Africa through cross regional mobility.
ORPHAN Project implementing institutions are: Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kenya; University Nangui Abrogoua (UNA), Ivory Coast; University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC), Benin; Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Nigeria; University of Zimbabwe (UZ), Zimbabwe; and Catholic University of Louvain (UCLouvain), Belgium
At JKUAT, the Project has taken off with three doctorate students already making headway with targeted field research and laboratory work in plant breeding and food science and nutrition. The students are: Mkpuma Kenneth Chukwuka (Nigeria), Murambidzi Tendai (Zimbabwe) and Sossou, Stellio Cyrus (Benin)
