ONYINYECHI NWAIGBA 
Applications are now open for the Crop Trust Power of Diversity Grants 2026, a major funding initiative supporting innovative projects that strengthen crop diversity, food security, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture across Africa and selected partner countries.
The programme is managed by the Crop Trust and is designed to scale impactful solutions that improve value chains for underutilised and climate-resilient “opportunity crops”.
According to the organisers, the initiative provides a total funding envelope of €2.2 million, with individual project grants typically ranging between USD 100,000 – USD 200,000 for implementation-focused agricultural projects.
Programme Objectives
The grants are aimed at projects that:
- Strengthen crop diversity and agrobiodiversity systems
- Improve food and nutrition security
- Build climate resilience in agriculture
- Develop sustainable agricultural value chains
- Enhance seed systems and crop production
- Expand market access for opportunity crops
- Promote consumer awareness and demand
- Improve post-harvest processing and distribution systems
The focus is on making underutilised crops more visible, productive, and economically viable within local and regional food systems.
Eligible Countries
Projects must be implemented in selected countries, including:
- Nigeria
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Zambia
- (and other participating partner countries, including Colombia in some components)
Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- NGOs and civil society organisations
- Research institutions and universities
- Farmer organisations and cooperatives
- Agribusinesses and private sector actors
- Community-based organisations
- Agricultural development organisations
Applicants are expected to demonstrate relevant experience in agricultural development and the capacity to deliver multi-year projects.
Project Focus Areas
Funded projects may support:
- Seed system development and improvement
- Climate-smart agriculture practices
- Processing and value addition
- Agricultural value chain strengthening
- Market development for nutritious crops
- Consumer awareness and demand creation
- Sustainable farming systems
- Agricultural innovation and technology adoption
Funding Details
- Total programme funding: €2.2 million
- Typical grant size: USD 100,000 – USD 200,000
- Project duration: Multi-year (up to 2029 in some cases)
- Application deadline: 3 July 2026
Why This Matters
Across Africa, many nutritious and climate-resilient crops remain underutilised despite their strong potential to improve food security and increase farmer incomes.
This programme helps bridge that gap by funding practical, scalable projects that strengthen agricultural biodiversity and improve food systems. It also promotes long-term resilience by encouraging diversified farming systems rather than over-reliance on a few staple crops.
How to Apply
Interested organisations can access full guidelines and submit applications via the official portal:
[give_form id="20698"]