About us

Mekong-Delta. Women washing Houttuynia cordata (picture by H. Jaenicke)

Changing lifestyles and the increasing globalization of trade have tended to favour only a few major crops and these have come to dominate agricultural production, processing and commerce, nationally and internationally. The demands for research – and hence funding – have inevitably concentrated on these same commodities. As a result, not only have a number of food species fallen into disuse, to be replaced by the major crops and the products derived from them, but also many other species are similarly affected such as those that can contribute fibre, medicine, fodder, or construction material. However, these neglected and underused plant species are part of a rich economic, social and cultural diversity. Many have the potential to play a much more important role than they do today in sustaining livelihoods and human wellbeing and in enhancing ecosystem health and stability. In addition, agrobiodiversity helps to keep options open for adaptation to, and mitigation of, climate changes.

 Crops for the Future is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of neglected and underutilised plant species as a contribution to humanity. It evolved from the International Centre for Underutilised Crops and the Global Facilitation Unit for Underutilized Species. 

•  It covers the whole range of underutilised species, food and non-food crops;
•  It catalyses the development of processing and marketing facilities for underutilised crops and will concentrate on developing options for income generation;
•  It has a global mandate and will thus strengthen national and regional efforts in policy advocacy; coalitions, consortia and alliances with relevant and engaged partners from the public and private sectors will form the base for its operation;
•  It will follow the innovation systems concept, thus being an initiator and facilitator, not implementer of research and development activities.

 Crops for the Future activities are arranged in three major strategic objectives formulated to increase the impact of past and ongoing research and development: (1) increasing the knowledge base for underutilised crops, especially regarding sustained market access, nutritional security, health and climate change, (2) identifying and advocating necessary policy change to promote the use of underutilised crops, and (3) fostering capacity building about underutilised crops.

 Crops for the Future is envisaged for the long-term, its life-span determined by regular and rigorous internal and external reviews. In a novel approach, it will be hosted by Bioversity International in a joint venture with the University of Nottingham’s Malaysia Campus and located in Serdang, Malaysia.