Africa is losing plant diversity at a pace that threatens food security, climate resilience and rural livelihoods, according to findings from the Third Report on the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
The report, published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, was launched at a regional event in Nairobi co-hosted by the FAO and the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry. It warns that crops, wild relatives and other edible plants are disappearing faster than they are being conserved, reducing the genetic resources needed to adapt agriculture to a changing climate.
Experts say plant genetic diversity underpins food security by providing traits that allow crops to withstand drought, pests and disease. Without such diversity, agricultural systems become more vulnerable to environmental shocks. The report highlights that varieties of staple crops such as sorghum, millet and rice – often developed by farmers over generations – are declining across the continent as commercial varieties replace traditional landraces.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, around 16 per cent of more than 12,000 locally adapted crop varieties assessed in 19 countries are considered threatened. Wild food plants that support rural diets and incomes are also at risk, with more than 70 per cent of assessed species facing decline due to habitat loss and climate change. These plants, including baobab and indigenous leafy vegetables, provide essential nutrition and safety nets for vulnerable communities.
Crop wild relatives – species related to major food crops that carry traits for resilience – are similarly endangered. The report notes that over 70 per cent of assessed wild relatives in Africa are threatened, while genebanks conserve only a fraction of available genetic material. Without stronger conservation efforts, valuable traits that could support future crop development may be lost.
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The security of seed collections also raises concerns. Although African genebanks store hundreds of thousands of seed samples, only a small proportion are duplicated elsewhere, leaving them vulnerable to risks such as conflict and environmental hazards. Experts argue that investment in genebanks and community seed systems is essential to safeguard genetic resources.
Officials stress that conservation and agricultural innovation must advance together. Plant genetic resources not only need to be preserved but also used to develop improved crop varieties that enhance productivity and resilience. Fourteen African countries report progress in studying and describing seed collections, while several are breeding improved varieties of underutilised crops such as amaranth and indigenous vegetables.
The report calls for coordinated action to strengthen policies, invest in scientific capacity and support farmers as custodians of genetic diversity. Climate change is accelerating biodiversity loss, increasing the urgency of intervention. Droughts now drive most emergency seed responses across Africa, highlighting the strain on agricultural systems.
International experts argue that plant diversity is fundamental to long-term food security and sustainable development. As populations grow and environmental pressures intensify, preserving genetic resources will be critical to ensuring resilient food systems capable of adapting to future challenges.
Without decisive action, the report warns, Africa risks losing irreplaceable biological resources that underpin agricultural productivity and human wellbeing.