Past, present and future of local crop evolution

Promoting agrobiodiversity is a promising strategy for mitigating the negative effects of climate change on global food security. We highlight the central role evolutionary processes play in harnessing the potential of local crops by integrating genomics, archaeology, ethnobotany and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). Our aim is to empower Indigenous peoples and local communities as key actors in agrobiodiversity and crop innovations, fostering ethical and active collaborations. Local contributions to diversifying the global food system will enhance climate resilience and ensure that the benefits of agricultural innovation are shared more broadly and justly across peoples. Strengthening diverse agricultural systems can mitigate the effects of accelerated climate change on crop production. Unlocking local crops' potential requires understanding their origins, domestication, fundamental attributes and uses. Here, we review the role of genomics, archaeology and ethnobotany that increased our understanding of crop evolution. We highlight biases in data availability towards globally commercial crops and chart pathways to develop baseline knowledge for local crops. We propose integrating these fields with traditional knowledge to illuminate how cultivation and uses have shaped, and will continue to shape, local crops and promote ethical collaborations. The lessons learnt from the past can help us chart the future of sustainable and climate‐resilient agriculture. Supported with evidence from recent research and traditional knowledge, we propose to orient seed conservation, breeding and accelerated domestication around Indigenous peoples and local communities.