2008 – Partnership with Crops For the Future (CFF)

In 2008, the Asia Pacific Office of Bioversity International and the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC) were granted the prestigious opportunity to co-host Crops For the Future (CFF). CFF was established as an independent international organisation with a mandate to promote and facilitate the greater use of neglected and underutilised crops for enhanced diversification of agricultural systems and human diets. The formation and hosting of CFF in Malaysia was made possible through the pioneering research of Professor Sayed Azam-Ali, who served as the Vice-Provost for Research and Internationalization at the University of Nottingham Malaysia from 2008 to 2011. Professor Azam-Ali, alongside his research team, boasts an excellent track record dating back to 1988, focusing on underutilized crops in collaboration with partners across Africa, Asia, and Europe.

Centre for Sustainable Crops (UNMC) partnered with CFF (initially led by Dr. Hannah Jaenicke and from 2009 led by Dr Michael Hermann) to undertakes research and development activities designed to improve livelihoods through greater use of agricultural biodiversity.