GFU Underutilized Species

You are invited to participate in the DGroup on underutilized species that will take place from Monday 21 April until Friday 20 May 2008.

A group of more than 200 participants gathered in Arusha 3-7 March 2008 to discuss about the contribution underutilized species can make to better food and nutrition patterns, contribute to income generation and to sustainable development.

From this gathering a series of recommendations were developed to explore opportunities, define the way forward and contribute to an action plan around the following four thematic areas:

What can we do on Underutilized Plants:

• 1. To address the opportunity of using underutilized plant species as risk buffers in times of climate change?
  2. To address the opportunity of using underutilized plant species for better nutrition?
  3. To meet the challenge of enhanced and sustained market access for underutilized plant products?
  4. To address the challenges regarding using underutilized species without undermining agrobiodiversity?

Further background on the four thematic areas and more details with regards to the questions we will discuss, will be posted on line when the discussions will commence.

At the end of each week you shall receive weekly summaries of the discussions and a final report that is expected to lead to strong and concrete recommendations we will draw on when advocating amongst research managers, policy and decision makers, for a stronger inclusion of underutilized species in R&D agendas and that we will extensively circulate amongst the members of our mailing lists, made of government representatives, national, regional and international organizations and other stakeholders worldwide.

The link to the DGroup is http://www.dgroups.org/groups/cta/Underutilisedplants2008/index.cfm, you may register from now, post links and documents that will be the basis for our interactions and share your thoughts on how to best lobby in favor of the underutilized species.

We would like this to be an informal space that CTA kindly made available for us to get together and share our passion for these forgotten, neglected, minor, Cinderella, and awesome plant species.

We will appreciate your support in forwarding this invitation to your relevant contacts encouraging them to participate.

Looking forward in meeting you on line for lively and stimulating discussions,

Thank you,
Paul

An article on the NY Times about TM (Traditional Medicine), a Medicine Hunter and, amongst the underutilized species mentioned, Maca in Peru . Here the link

An article about saving the bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) and one about the bottle gourd saving us from a cucurbit virus!

Phisic nut (Jatropha curcas) in FAO’s PBN newletter and plenty lof information following the link to Nature

MediaGlobal blog makes relevant posting for underutilized species

Still worth reading this blog post from ASPO-USA  ((ASPO-USA is a non partisan, proactive effort to encourage prudent energy management, constructive community transformation, and cooperative initiatives during an era of depleting petroleum resources.))written by Dave Cohen in August 2007

From SciDevNet India hops on board the ‘jatropha express’

An ICT project in Burkina faso has the intention to strenghten connection amongst Shea butter (Vitellaria paradoxa) produce and sale.

Here is the link to read about it from IICD (The International Institute for Communication and Development) newsletter

Scores of African scientists will be trained to develop crops for Africa’s conditions under a programme launched on Wednesday which is also aimed at keeping their expertise at home. Read more at Reuters …

Cary Fowler mentions “Orphan crops” while talking about this major conservation effort taking place in Svalbard (Norway). Here a link to the article.