Climate change is a major factor driving global food and nutrition insecurity, affecting
agricultural productivity and food availability. Conventional strategies to mitigate
food insecurity have been insufficient, leaving millions vulnerable to malnutrition.
Diversifying cropping systems beyond a few staple crops is essential to achieve
food security goals. Orphan legumes, such as African yam bean (Sphenostylis
stenocarpa), represent underutilized crops with considerable potential for climate
resilience and nutritional value. Despite their promise, African yam bean suffers
from low yields and limited varietal development. This case report highlights the
potential of modern biotechnological approaches to enhance African yam bean
productivity and quality. Techniques such as tissue culture, molecular markerassisted
selection, genomic studies, and other omics technologies could address
current limitations, while also improving resistance to biotic and abiotic stress.
The report underscores the importance of integrating biotechnology into orphan
crop improvement programs to achieve sustainable food systems and nutritional
security in Sub-Saharan Africa.