ABSTRACT
Only a limited number of crops produce the bulk of food consumed in the world. Many neglected and underutilized species are extremely important for food production in low-income food defi cit countries (LIFDC) (Ochatt et al. 2007). They are locally well adapted to marginal lands and constitute an important part of the local diet, providing valuable nutritional elements (e.g., protein, vitamins, and minerals) and spices, often lacking in staple crops. Neglected and underutilized crops also represent an important source of revenue for local economies and are part of the rich cultural and traditional heritage of communities around the world. In addition, these crops are important sources of resistance genes for biotic and abiotic stress breeding that can be utilized also for the genetic improvement of commodity crops. Compared to major crops, they require relatively low inputs and, therefore, contribute to sustainable agricultural production. So far there has been little research and development of these species due to lack of government funding and interest of the private sector. These traditional crops are often low yielding, because they are often grown on marginal land and cannot compete with major crops, even though many have the potential to be economically viable.
