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The 2^nd International Symposium on Underutilised Plant Species entitled ‘Crops for the Future – Beyond Food Security’ was held on 27 June – 1 July 2011 in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.  The Symposium was organised by the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus under the auspices of the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) with support from the ISHS Working Group on Underutilised Plant Genetic Resources, the ISHS Commission on Plant Genetic Resources and the ISHS Section on Tropical and Sub-Tropical Fruits. The event was co-convened and supported by Crops for the Future, Bioversity International, the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Boustead Holdings Berhad, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Kirkhouse Trust, British Council and Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa.

 

Over 250 participants from over 45 countries attended the four day event held in Kuala Lumpur to mark the hosting by Malaysia of the world `Crops for the Future’ (CFF) organisation with a global mandate to investigate promising underutilised food and non-food crops. Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, officiated the opening ceremony as well as the official launching of the Crops for the Future Research Centre (CFFRC). CFFRC is a joint venture between the Government of Malaysia and the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus and from its global base in Malaysia, CFFRC will establish world class research on promising underutilised crops.

 

Delegates including high level keynote speakers contributed to oral presentations, posters and technical tours. Their deliberations culminated into the identification of priorities for the future development of underutilised plant species and building of critical mass of researchers and end-users across food and non-food crops.