Traditional African staples such as millet and sorghum are shifting from the periphery to the center of global agricultural strategy as climate pressures mount. A new tug-of-war is emerging over whether these crops will remain under farmer control or fall to corporate interests.
The $150 million pivot toward "opportunity crops"
Traditional African staples like millet, sorghum, fonio, and Bambara groundnut are moving from the margins to the center of global agricultural strategy. For decades, research funding and subsidies favored maize, wheat, and rice, but growing concerns over soil degradation and poor diets are driving a renewed interest in these resilient varieties.. This shift is being fueled by significant capital, including a $150 million commitment from the Rockefeller Foundation announced in December 2023.
This influx of interest is part of a broader movement to treat neglected crops as high-value assets. As the report notes, these "opportunity crops" are being positioned as essential tools for climate adaptation, moving the conversation from local village markets into international conference halls and donor strategies.
Syngenta, Cargill, and the VACS investment model
The Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) program represents a major push by the US State Department and the African Union to modernize these crop systems. While the program aims to promote nutritious, climate-adapted crops, its list of champions includes major private entities such as Syngenta, Cargill, and John Deere, alongside the Gates Foundation.
The VACS approach tends to prioritize productivity through mechanization, the formalization of seed systems, and the attraction of private investment. According to the source, the goal is often to connect small-scale farmers to large-scale buyers, a model that critics argue treats crops developed by African communities as mere business opportunities rather than a foundation for local food security.
The exclusion of the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa
A significant gap exists between the architects of VACS and the people who have managed these crops for generations. Journalist Alexander Zaitchik reported that African farmer organizations were not consulted during the initial planning stages of the initiative. Specifically, the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa—a group that has long campaigned for the rights of local producers—was reportedly never approached by VACS leadership.
This lack of consultation leaves several critical questions unanswered: Will the new agricultural landscape be built for the woman preserving Bambara groundnut varieties, or for the seed companies seeking new markets? Furthermore, will the interests of public breeders at African universities be sidelined by the drive for commercial scale?
The risk of patenting centuries of farmer-led breeding
The transition from traditional farming to formalized seed systems carries the heavy risk of intellectual property disputes. While the research partner CGIAR states it treats seeds like okra, sesame, and taro as public goods, the source warns that outside actors may still be able to patent them. This tension is heightened by the fact that the World Food Prize Foundation, where VACS was showcased, is chaired by a former president of Corteva, a seed giant formed from the Dow and DuPont merger.
If the VACS program follows the patterns of the Green Revolution, it may prioritize external expertise and high yields over local food sovereignty. Critics argue that seed governance and benefit-sharing must be settled before breeding programs are designed, lest the very diversity that serves as Africa's biological insurance be lost to punitive patent regimes.
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