Goals
Why study under-utilised plants?
The human race relies on fewer and fewer plants to feed more and more people - wheat, rice and maize alone provide over 60% of the global diet.
Meanwhile, potential sources of food are going un-noticed and some plants are disappearing altogether. Scientists believe that many of these species could be of major agricultural significance or be developed as niche products.
Objectives
The Centre will be particularly focussed on the scientific study and evaluation of under-utilised crops from all over the world; to seek out crops that have the potential to be grown for human sustenance or on a commercial basis for food, pharmaceuticals or biomaterials in the climates of the future.
In order to meet this overall objective, the Centre must:
- Persuade commercial entities from a range of sectors: growth, processing, manufacturing - of the necessity of investment in the research and development of these plants for their eventual use.
- To demonstrate the usefulness of these products and create a value chain from production and processing to marketing and sales and prove their commercial viability.
Education
It is also hoped that CFFRC will serve as a major forum for public engagement and education. CFFRC will act as a visitor centre for schools, students and the general public where they can learn about both the importance of agricultural biodiversity as well as plants indigenous to Malaysia and elsewhere.