a. Currently 220 crops are listed in our database. Some of them are labelled as 'underutilised', some of them are crops that are growing in Bera district Malaysia and some are crops that have been grown in our Field Research Centre (FRC). We use collected data of these crops to showcase the SELECTCROP.

b. We are in the process of enhancing our taxonomic backbone (data about species and landraces names) by integrating taxonomic data from major databases like USDA GRIN and Global Biodiversity Information Database (GBIF). This taxonomy data that amounts to more than 100K species names will be integrated in the next iteration of the database.

a. The data is collected using variety of methods to cover value chain of crops;

i. Manual data collection using available literature online and offline. The data is entered by data collectors using an online curation system. Metadata, including references, location, images, notes and ‘reliability flags’ will also be collected for the purpose of curation and validation.

ii. We have identified quite a few databases that can supply the information we need and we are in the process of linking and integrating data from those databases. These databases include, FAO Ecocrop on ecological characteristics of almost 2700 crop species, Food Plants International data on around 7000 nutritious crop species around the world, AVRDC nutrition database on around 60 vegetables. We also have partnership with Malaysian institutes like Malaysian Department of Agriculture (DOA) and Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) that would supply the local data needed for this project.

iii. Ground data (mostly socio-economics information) are collected by contacting local authorities. We are in the process of developing standard questionnaires to collect local and farmers’ data.

a. Gap filling using available data will be done at three levels (is not integrated in the database yet);

i. Closest relatives (at both genotypic of the phenotypic levels)
ii. Data from the nearest location for the same crop
iii. Available data from the next reliable source

a. The data that is collected from variety of sources will need to be validated by experts both within and out outside the centre. We will demonstrate the data reliability flags in the next iterations of the database.

b. Experimental data and the data collected by CFF personnel will be added to the database in the next iteration of the tool.

a. For the purpose of comparison.

b. In order to show the areas that underutilised crops can complement and solve local problems and where major crops can or will perform sub-par.

a. We have a curation system that will be open to the experts and users to curate and validate the data after the data is collected. This will be available in the next iteration.

b. We will also provide the source and reliability criteria for all of the data that is used for any analysis so that inconsistencies and errors can be flagged and reported.

Our team of socio-economic experts have initiated a task force that includes local farmers and representatives of the government organisations working in this area to review the system and provide feedback.