Discover the forgotten crops that can nourish people, protect biodiversity, and transform the future of food.
Over 7,000 plant species have been cultivated for food throughout human history. Today, just nine crops provide more than 66% of global plant-based calories. The Living Pantry is a growing archive of the nutritious, climate-resilient crops that have been pushed aside — and the communities that kept them alive. Explore them here.
West Africa
Digitaria exilis
One of Africa's oldest cultivated grains, fonio thrives in poor soils and dry conditions. Nutty, light, and deeply nutritious — it has fed communities across the Sahel for over 5,000 years.
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Sub-Saharan Africa & South Asia
Sorghum bicolor
The fifth most important cereal crop in the world. Gluten-free, drought-resistant, and versatile — sorghum has sustained communities across Africa and Asia for millennia.
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Ethiopia & East Africa
Eragrostis tef
The world's smallest grain and the foundation of Ethiopian cuisine. Rich in iron, calcium, and protein — teff is the grain behind injera, the sourdough flatbread that is both plate and utensil.
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Featured cropSub-Saharan Africa
Vigna subterranea
A complete food in a single seed — the Bambara groundnut provides protein, carbohydrates, and essential amino acids. Drought-tolerant and nitrogen-fixing, it thrives where other crops fail.
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Pacific Islands & Caribbean
Artocarpus altilis
A single breadfruit tree can produce hundreds of kilograms of nutritious fruit per year. Starchy, filling, and versatile — breadfruit was a staple across the Pacific long before it was introduced to the Caribbean.
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Americas, Africa & InDIA
Amaranthus spp.
Sacred to the Aztecs and suppressed by colonisers, amaranth is one of the most nutritionally complete plants on Earth. Rich in protein, lysine, and minerals — it is both grain and leafy vegetable.
Learn MoreEach crop in the archive comes with traditional recipes, cultural stories, and preparation guides. Explore the Recipe Library to discover how these forgotten foods are cooked and celebrated around the world.
