The two regional consultations that led to the Strategic Framework for Underutilized Plants R&D (2006) gave birth to the definition we adopt when talking about underutilized species

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It is difficult to define just what qualifies as an 'underutilized species'. Terms such as 'underutilized', 'neglected', 'orphan', 'minor', 'promising', 'niche' and 'traditional' are often used interchangeably to characterise the range of plant species those species with under-exploited potential for contributing to food security, health (nutritional/medicinal), income generation, and environmental services.

These species have the following common features:

• Represent an enormous wealth of agrobiodiversity and have great potential for contributing to improved incomes, food security
  and nutrition, and for combating the 'hidden hunger' caused by micronutrient (vitamin and mineral) deficiencies

• Are strongly linked to the cultural heritage of their places of origin

• Are mainly local and traditional crops (with their ecotypes and landraces) or wild species whose distribution, biology, cultivation and uses are poorly documented

• Tend to be adapted to specific agro-ecological niches and marginal land

• Have weak or no formal seed supply systems

• Are recognized to have traditional uses in localized areas

• Are collected from the wild or produced in traditional production systems with little or no external inputs

• Receive little attention from research, extension services, farmers, policy and decision makers, donors, technology providers and consumers

• May be highly nutritious and/or have medicinal properties or other multiple uses.

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