SUSTLIVES

Eating traditional, nutrient-rich species that are often neglected by mainstream agriculture has many potential benefits. Research shows that crops such as cassava, fabirama, hibiscus, moringa and bambara groundnut are nutrient dense and can contain important minerals and vitamins as well as being more adapted to growing in resource poor settings under extreme climate conditions. 

Funded by the European Union and implemented by national and international partners, SUSTLIVES aims to help Burkina Faso and Niger transition toward sustainable and resilient agricultural and food systems particularly in view of predicted climate changes in the region. Main activities include raising awareness of traditional, nutrient rich species and increasing their use in diets and value chains as sources of income, particularly for women and youth. The aim is to build more resilient and adaptable farming and seed systems by exposing farmers to more crop varieties, increasing their first-hand knowledge of different traits (nutrition, taste, drought resistance etc.) and improving their capacity to save and access good quality seeds or planting materials. 

Including these species in local production systems could help meet the dietary needs of local communities in the short term while solving pervasive micronutrient deficiency in the two countries at lower costs than vitamin supplementation. Further, the integration of these crops in local value chains could improve local economies in the long term.