and Agriculture emphasized the importance of underutilized crops 1999 - At an international workshop held in Chennai, India, the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) recognized the contribution that neglected and underutilized species make to food security, rural incomes and combating poverty 2002 - Establishment of the Global Facilitation Unit of Underutilized Species (GFU) of the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR), and was housed within Bioversity International, Rome, Italy. 2008 - Establishment of Crops for the Future (CFF) which is a merging of ICUC and GFU, based in Malaysia 2011 - Establishment of Crops for the Future Research Centre (CFFRC) in Malaysia 2012 - The international Crops for the 21st Century seminar held on 10–13 December 2012 in Córdoba, Spain aimed to discuss major topics related to underlining the role of neglected and underutilised species to address food and agriculture challenges in the future. 2013 - Official launch of the International Year of Quinoa (IYQ-2013), intended to increase awareness, understanding and knowledge about quinoa and its importance on food security. 2013 - 3rd International Conference on Neglected and Underutilized Species, Accra, Ghana - to ensure that research on neglected and underutilized species (NUS) is demand-oriented and that results are better shared and applied, researchers, extension agents, the private sector and farmers must engage in more collaboration - in sub-Saharan Africa. See also Food security Heirloom plant List of useful plants Slow Food Subsistence farming Food biodiversity References External links Crops for the Future NUS Database Asia NewCROP the New Crop Resource Online Program NUS Community - Bioversity International CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas Agriculture Economic development Crops