Interim Programme
The Opening Ceremony keynote address will be delivered by Dr Monty Jones, Executive Secretary, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Accra, Ghana.
Four scientific themes will be discussed:
1. Just famine food? What contributions can underutilized plants make to food security?
Contributions to this theme will discuss the role of underutilized plants as risk buffers for food security in times of environmental or societal disasters. Experience may be shared on the use of underutilized species as emergency food and fodder and the role of seed banks and other community-based initiatives during difficult periods.
Keynote address by Dr Jackie Hughes, Deputy Director General, AVRDC - The World Vegetable Centre, Taiwan - ROC
2. Nourish or perish? The role of underutilized plants in family and society nutrition and health
Contributions to this theme will highlight the use of underutilized plants, for example in providing balanced nutrition to mothers and children, contributing to healthier diets and reducing incidence of overweight and obesity. Examples may be provided of research into new forms of traditional foods, “nutraceuticals” and medicines and the re-emergence of ‘forgotten’ crops into the mainstream of newly affluent urban communities as trend products.
Keynote address by Dr Boitshepo Giyose, Nutrition Adviser, NEPAD, South Africa
3. How do markets differ? Challenges and opportunities in the marketing of underutilized plant products"
Contributions to this theme will discuss value/supply chains for underutilized plants and their products. Do they differ from mainstream commodities, and if so in what aspects? What experience do we have with collective action in processing and marketing? Are there products that lend themselves specifically to domestic, regional or export markets? In this theme, we also welcome contributions that have a specific focus on intellectual property rights issues for both newly developed/introduced crops and underutilized species.
Keynote address by Dr Jonathan Hellin, Poverty Specialist, CIMMYT Mexico.
4. Use it or lose it? The effect of developing underutilized plants on environmental sustainability and biodiversity
Contributions to this theme will deal with the impact of increased utilization of a species on inter- and intra-specific genetic diversity and will discuss strategies to limit any adverse effect. Information about gene flow from wild to domesticated relatives may be presented as well as experience with newly domesticated species. Questions such as whether agro-ecological systems are more diverse and/or more sustainable when using underutilized species may be discussed.
Keynote address by Dr Nigel Maxted, School of Biological Sciences, Birmingham University, UK
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