Launch of International Policy Dialogue on Future Smart Crops in Nepal

Kathmandu – The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, QU Dongyu, on Thursday attended the launch in Kathmandu of the International Policy Dialogue on Future Smart Crops, an initiative designed to unlock the potential of neglected and underutilized crop species (NUS).

The launch was part of the Director-General’s three-day visit to Nepal and was also attended by the country’s Vice President, The Honourable Ram Sahya Prasad Yadav, and the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development, The Honourable Bedu Ram Bhusal.

In his opening remarks, Qu emphasized the need for more and better crops, ensuring accessibility while minimizing environmental impact. 

He noted that over-reliance on a few staple crops leads to low dietary diversity. The Director-General also added that underutilized crop species hold huge potential for a more inclusive, sustainable, climate-resilient future. Sharing knowledge, involving all partners, is key to mainstreaming them.

Nepal’s current agrifood system is plagued by declining biodiversity, poor soil health, and market fragmentation, and struggles to achieve sustainability and weather the storms of climate change. Amidst these challenges, neglected and underutilized crop species (NUS) emerge as beacons of hope. These resilient, nutrient-rich gems, which are often overlooked due to a lack of awareness and policy support, hold immense potential for a more inclusive and sustainable food for the future. Recognizing this, FAO convened the International Policy Dialogue to unlock the potential of NUS, bringing together stakeholders to share best practices, tackle policy hurdles, and forge partnerships for a future where NUS flourish, nourishing communities, and ecosystems alike.

The issue is not only relevant to Nepal, but also to a number of other countries where over-reliance on a few staple crops is a leading cause of low dietary diversity and persistent malnutrition. Future Smart Crops (FSCs) is a category of promising NUS that has a key role to play in the battle against poverty and malnutrition under challenging climatic variabilities. FSCs such as quinoa, lentil and Nepali pepper are nutrient dense and climate resistant. They require low external inputs, are well-adapted to the local climate and contribute to soil health and agrobiodiversity, as well as being economically viable, locally available and socially acceptable.

The Policy Dialogue was accompanied by an exhibition featuring 30 stalls designed to showcase a diverse array of NUS varieties, technologies, and products.

The exhibition highlighted four key FAO initiatives – the 1000 Digital Villages Initiative, the One Country One Priority Product, the Hand-in-Hand Initiative, and the Green Cities Initiative, alongside other flagship projects. The exhibition was strategically designed to function as a dynamic platform fostering knowledge exchange, technology transfer, and networking opportunities for partners within the agrifood system.