The Forgotten Frontiers of Agriculture: Domestication and the Multifaceted Value of Underutilized Indigenous Crops: A Review

Neglected and underutilized indigenous crops represent a critical but overlooked resource for mitigating global food insecurity, climate change and the loss of biodiversity. These species exhibit remarkable adaptability, high nutritional value and significant cultural importance; however, they remain marginalized owing to insufficient research, inadequate market integration, a lack of supportive policies and the erosion of traditional knowledge systems crucial for sustainable agriculture. This study presents a systematic review adhering to the PRISMA framework, which employs a hybrid of bibliometric and qualitative synthesis. We analysed scholarly and institutional publications spanning 2010-2025 with NVivo 14, concentrating on the policy, ecological and socio-economic dimensions related to the improvement, domestication and use of underutilized native crops in Sub-Saharan and other developing regions. Evidence indicates that the domestication and incorporation of underutilized crops provide substantial co-benefits for biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, food security and rural livelihoods. From an ecological perspective, these species augment agrobiodiversity, improve soil health and enhance adaptation to drought and heat. Nutritionally, they supply diverse micronutrients and proteins that are lacking in major staple crops, thus improving dietary quality. On a socio-cultural level, they preserve indigenous knowledge, foster food sovereignty and empower local populations. Economically, they create diverse income streams and bolster rural value chains when facilitated by equitable market systems. However, progress is hindered by ongoing challenges, including insufficient research funding, disorganized seed systems, underdeveloped value addition and policy neglect. This review posits that realizing the potential of these crops requires integrating genomics, participatory breeding and community-led value chains within supportive policy frameworks. Sustainable domestication efforts must reconcile productivity objectives with the preservation of genetic, ecological and cultural integrity.