International Symposium on Underutilized Plants for Food, Nutrition, Income and Sustainable Development

Group picture of the participants

This 5-day Symposium was held in Arusha, Tanzania 3 - 7 March 2008. It was organised under the auspices of the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS), recognising the need to provide a global forum for exchange and debate on issues related to the promotion of underutilized plants. The Symposium was an activity of the newly formed ISHS working group on underutilized plant genetic resources (PG3) and will be a joint event of the ISHS Commission Plant Genetic Resources and Section Tropical and Subtropical Fruits.

The Symposium was organised around four main areas of importance for underutilized plants: food security, nutrition and health, income generation, and environmental sustainability. Participants will be invited to share and discuss reasons for success and failure of diverse approaches to promote underutilized plants.

Co-convened by :

• International Centre for Underutilised Crops (ICUC)


• Global Facilitation Unit for Underutilized Species (GFU)


• The World Vegetable Center (AVRDC)


• The Global Horticulture Initiative (GlobalHort)


• Bioversity International


• Plant Resources for Tropical Africa (PROTA)


• The International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS)


• Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)


• Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA)


• Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA)