APAARI is pleased to announce the upcoming Partners’ Meeting for the Collective Action on Forgotten Foods Initiative in India, to be held on 3-5 May 2023 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. This event will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, including smallholder farmers, agricultural researchers, NGOs, government officials, and development agencies.

The Collective Action on Forgotten Foods and Crops is based on strong principles of collaboration, partnership and knowledge exchange that combines farmers’ custodianship. insights, perspectives and experiences with innovative research practices.

The initiative is facilitated by the Global Forum on Agricultural Research and Innovation (GFAR), and led by the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI), Asian Farmers Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA), MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) and the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA).

It aims to unlock the potential of underutilized crops and farming systems to address Sustainable Development Goals while preserving crop diversity. The initiative has a double objective: to bring back attention to forgotten foods and to support new ways of conducting research based on co-innovation and co-creation approaches. This entails a transformation of professional profiles, attitudes, skills, and mindsets on the side of the scientists, a new position of farmers as holders of knowledge and true partners in all the steps of the innovation journey, and a different role of institutions in the democratization of the processes empowering small-scale producers.

In India, the initiative focuses on forgotten foods that have cultural and nutritional significance in local communities. The Partners’ Meeting will facilitate partnerships and further develop the program design. The initiative aligns with the International Year of Millets and highlights India’s wealth in agrobiodiversity and diverse cuisines.