Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS) are the wild and semi-domesticated species that are well-adapted to the local environment like millets, cassava, yam, amaranth etc. These crops lost their relevance after being replaced by major staples like rice, wheat etc. Still, gradually they are gaining precedence in recent years as a climate-smart crop with an innate ability to fulfil the nutritional requirements of a population. The quest to provide the population with the best alternatives to meet their food and nutritional security with limited resources has repaved the path for NUS as a Future Smart Food (FSF). Despite its viability, the mainstreaming of these food crops is still a distant dream as it requires changes in the sociocultural, economic and environmental temperament to enhance it. The present review tries to understand the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats concerning NUS to get a preliminary understanding of its current state and future prospects.