The project activities will focus on (1) improving the resilience of cultivation systems, (2) aligning the economic and social needs of farmers with ecological targets, and (3) marketing of new food/non-food products that meet the needs of consumers.

All selected crops have a broad genetic background that can be used to cross in important characteristics relating to factors such as resilience to stress and an improved nutritional value. Moreover, these crops have major ecological benefits. Many of them produce nectar-rich flowers or fix air nitrogen, for example. This will lead to highly resilient agroecosystems with greater adaptability to climate change, a better use of genetic resources, and greater food diversity.

By developing tools for the integration of the six undertuilised crops in local agricultural systems and along the value chain, CROPDIVA will contribute to a low-carbon and climate resilient agro-economy, one of the six common EU rural development policy priorities. To achieve this objective, CROPDIVA aims to inspire actors along to chain to get better acquainted with and informed about the possibilities and uses of the different underutilised crops.