In its new Innovate Africa program, Al Jazeera English has profiled work at the World Agroforestry Centre to sequence the genomes of lesser-known food crops in Africa.

While crops such has maize and wheat have received international attention through various breeding programs, orphan crops “have been neglected by the rest of the world – they have not been improved,” says Ramni Jamnadass, head of research into Tree Diversity, Domestication and Delivery with the Centre in the program.

Orphan crops in Africa include plants such as baobab, amaranth, breadfruit and the spider plant.

They “are very important to smallholder farmers in Africa,” says Ramni. “These crops have high nutritional value, they’re adapted to their soils, dry climates. They haven’t had anyone adopting them and say ‘let’s improve you and let’s grow you into something.”

The program looks at the process involved in sequencing the genomes of 100 selected orphan crops and the potential that this research can unlock. It will enable plant breeders to select for traits such as fruits that are high in micronutrients and crops that can withstand the effects of climate change.

Established in 2013 through the African Orphan Crops Consortium, the African Plant Breeding Academy aims to develop improved varieties of ‘orphan crops’ that could help provide food security to millions of African people.

The Academy, which is based at the World Agroforestry Centre, provides scientists and technicians with a dedicated place to sequence, assemble and annotate the genomes to help develop food crops with higher nutritional value to better withstand climate changes, pests and disease.

Innovate Africa is a 6-part television series that showcases how entrepreneurs and innovators across Africa are using technology to change lives.

See the segment on orphan crops in Innovate Africa (from 6.42-13.50 minutes): http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/innovate-africa/2014/11/transforming-food-20141117151248500352.html

Find out more about the African Plant Breeding Academy