Most developing countries are endowed with vast resources of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) which have been used as food, health care products, flavours and fragrances over the millennia for human welfare. In spite of tremendous advances made in the development of synthetic drugs, the modern pharmaceutical drug armamentarium still contains at least 25% drugs derived from plants. Traditional systems of medicine operating in certain countries use primarily medicinal and aromatic plants as source of drugs. Governments are neither aware of the real potential of the plants as raw materials for processing into value-added products nor have the facilities, trained man power and technology to harness this potential. Traditional medicines which contain mainly plant constituents have not kept pace with scientific and technological advances. Another problem is the non-availability of information on quantum of availability and consumption of medicinal and aromatic plants material. Today, countries are requiring urgent technical assistance in conducting R&D on plant-based products. This need is being felt by the current resurgence of interest in the use of "natural products" in developed countries. Free market economy brings greater openness, expanding markets and demand for new resources, materials and goods. The search for new phytopharmaceuticals for prevention and cure of fatal diseases such as AIDS, cancer and metabolic disorders, the increasing awareness regarding biodiversity conservation and therefore leading to sustainable and protective use of forest resources. Products that can improve quality of life and contribute to the income of people in developing countries need to be made readily available in a more scientifically and technologically sound, effective and acceptable form.

ICS projects aim to assist this process. Focus is on an action-oriented plan to initiate, promote and develop activities for the sustainable exploitation of the full potential of these resources, taking conservation issues into account. One outcome should be an increase in incomes of rural household and a boost in national economies. Main emphasis will be on developing human resources, technology transfer, R&D support for institutes and provision of access to scientific, technical and marketing information through networking.