Prof. Jose-Antonio Fernandez has attended the International Symposium “Underutilized Plant Species for Food, Nutrition, Income and Sustainable Development” carried out in Arusha, Tanzania, 2-8 March 2008, organized by the International Centre for Underutilised Crops (ICUC). His talk “Saffron, a Sustainable Crop with Potential Medicinal and Industrial Applications” was presented inside the theme: Nourish or perish? The role of underutilized plants in family and society, nutrition, and health.

After an introduction dealing with the significance of saffron crop and its uses, the CrocusBank project was also presented as a model experience for conservation and utilisation of genetic resources in any minor crop, including its phylogenetic allies.

The symposium