Opportunity crops have an untapped potential for healthy diets and climate resilience. They can diversify food systems, but farmers’ limited access to quality seed remains a major barrier. In Zanzibar, Mariam Salim demonstrates their potential: after training in amaranth seed production, she sold 150 kg of seed in one year, earning US$450. A new Food Security policy framework proposes six actions to scale such successes, from prioritizing and conserving crop diversity to variety registration and seed delivery.

Co-organizers: International Potato Center (CIP), Peru’s Ministry of Environment (MINAM), FAO Plant Treaty, Crop Trust, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Alliance Bioversity CIAT

EVENT OBJECTIVES 
- Build a shared understanding of how opportunity crops can contribute to healthier diets, climate resilience, and more diverse food systems. 
- Discuss how the six policy recommendations can be translated into practical action to make the diversity of opportunity crops a priority for policy, available for evaluation and breeding, and accessible to farmers 
- Connect key actors across government, research, development, and seed systems to identify opportunities for collaboration and implementation. 

KEY OUTCOMES 
- Greater awareness of the six recommendations and their relevance for policy and practice. 
- Priority actions and opportunities identified for advancing opportunity crops from seed to plate. 
- Stronger connections among key stakeholders, creating a basis for future collaboration and implementation.