Community
Discussion group
By popular request, we have now created an information exchange forum. Access http://groups.google.com/group/ICUC-News and post and read information on training and funding opportunities or new research projects on underutilised plant species. You can solicit comments from like-minded colleagues about a research or discussion paper by sending a message to ICUC-News@googlegroups.com. By participating in ICUC-News you will be actively involved in new developments.
Once you register you can chose whether you want to receive regular emails whenever someone posts information, or whether you want to check out news on the web at your convenience.
We look forward to lively information exchange through this new facility.
You can find past issues of ICUC-News here.
Library
Access to information is one of the vital requirements for thriving research. However, one of the limiting factors especially for the underutilised crops research community is a lack of access to “grey” literature and to many international peer-reviewed journals. With the library, ICUC offers access to on-line journals and to interesting individual articles that we have come across. We do not, however, take any responsibility for the content of the articles and posting an article here does not mean that ICUC necessarily approves or agrees with the content and opinions expressed.
Articles can be found in the following broad categories, which might be amended over time:
If you have published or read an article that you find interesting for a wider audience, please contact us at ICUC and indicate in which section your paper would fit.
Project ideas
Traditional plant species and varieties are a component of traditional land use systems. These are in many cases more resilient to environmental factors such as drought, salinity and flooding than modern intensive systems. Highly biodiverse systems can also provide nutritional security during hunger periods and prolonged dry seasons. Risk assessment and risk management options are of increasing importance for environmental insurers as the incidence of storm, flooding and droughts is likely to increase due to climate change events.
However, although underutilised crop species are mentioned as central in the livelihoods of the rural and urban poor, detailed data are not available to the actual use and potential of various species in diverse livelihood systems. The lack of data has been hampering advocacy efforts to remove barriers to the use of underutilised species and their products in international markets (for example the EC Novel Food Crops Directive). Assessing the potential of underutilised plant species in securing a livelihood through their potential for income generation, their nutritional benefits or in assisting the recovery of degraded soils for cash crop production, we will determine entry points and develop practical recommendations.
A series of discrete scoping studies is proposed to allow engagement with partner organisations. These studies will (1) study whether there are niches for underutilised crops, for example to restore soils that have declined due to intensive cropping with unsuitable commercial crops; (2) study the structure and optimisation of market chains for underutilised crops in national/regional/international markets; (3) compare and map the suitability and resilience of traditional/underutilised and modern crop species in various land use mosaics; (4) develop decision support systems to guide land managers and policy makers.
For more information about ICUC's workplan click here
Self-financed interns or MSc/PhD students looking for attachments and research opportunities are welcome to join ICUC or our partner organisations to contribute to these research priorities. We can arrange placements in Africa, Asia or the Pacific Islands. Please contact ICUC.
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