未来的植物（Plants For A Future，简称PFAF）是一家注册于英格兰和威尔士的慈善公司（慈善登记号1057719，公司登记号3204567），总部位于英国。机构最初为支持当地蕨类植物的研究工作而创立，重点研究蕨类植物的食用价值。此后研究范围扩展至更广泛的食用植物领域，种植了超过1,500种食用植物。如今，PFAF已发展成为全球最重要的食用植物数据库之一，涵盖约8,000种植物的详细图文信息，并持续更新补充。机构使命是通过推广种植多样化植物，寻找适合当代生活的可持续替代作物。
机构起源与发展
PFAF最初由一群关注本土植物应用的爱好者创立，最初研究方向为蕨类植物的食用价值。随着研究深入，团队逐步扩展至更广泛的食用植物收集与评估。目前网站收录超过8,000种植物的详细信息，涵盖食用价值、药用价值及其他用途的完整描述。机构坚持非营利运营模式，通过捐赠和出版物销售维持数据库的免费开放访问，让全球园艺爱好者、研究者和农民都能受益于这些资源。
植物数据库与检索系统
PFAF数据库提供强大的多维度检索功能，用户可按植物名称（学名或俗名）、科属分类、栖息地类型、用途特性等多维度筛选目标植物。数据库详细记录每种植物的食用评级（1-5分）、药用评级（1-5分）、具体可食用部位（顶芽、叶片、花粉、豆荚、根茎、汁液等）、生长习性（树形/灌木/藤本/球茎等）、株高范围、耐寒区间（英国标准1-10级和美国农业部标准）、光照需求、土壤要求、水分需求、抗性特性（包括耐旱性、耐盐性、耐 maritime 环境、抗污染能力等）以及开花时间和授粉方式等详尽参数。
使命目标与全球影响
当前全球超过20,000种植物具有食用价值，但仅不足20种植物就供应了世界上90%的食物。大面积单一种植模式加剧了对化学农药和化肥的依赖，且面对气候变化带来极大脆弱性。PFAF认为，如果种植某种植物所消耗的资源超过其产出，则该模式不可持续。机构的使命是通过推广多样化种植，寻找适合当代社会需求的可持续替代作物和新型粮农方案。PFAF还出版了《地中海气候区粮食森林植物》等专题书籍，开发了本土植物检索（Native Plant Search）工具，帮助用户查找适合特定区域的植物资源。
官方网站：pfaf.org
Origin and Development
Plants For A Future (PFAF) is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales (Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567). Originally founded to support local research into the edible uses of ferns, the organization gradually expanded its scope to encompass a broader range of edible plants, cultivating over 1,500 species. Today, PFAF has grown into one of the world’s most comprehensive edible plant databases, featuring detailed information on approximately 8,000 plant species, continuously updated and expanded. The charity operates on a non-profit model, maintaining free public access to its database through donations and publication sales.
Database and Search System
The PFAF database offers powerful multi-dimensional search capabilities, allowing users to filter plants by name (scientific or common), family classification, habitat type, and usage properties. Each plant entry includes detailed records of edible rating (1-5), medicinal rating (1-5), specific edible parts (apical bud, leaves, pollen, seed pods, roots, shoots, sap, etc.), growth habit (tree, shrub, climber, bulb, etc.), height range, hardiness ratings (UK standard 1-10 and USDA zones), light requirements, soil preferences, moisture needs, resistance characteristics (drought tolerance, salt tolerance, maritime exposure, pollution tolerance, etc.), and flowering time with pollinator information.
Mission and Global Impact
Currently, over 20,000 plant species worldwide have edible uses, yet fewer than 20 species provide 90% of the world’s food supply. Large-scale monoculture farming has increased dependence on chemical pesticides and fertilizers while creating extreme vulnerability to climate change. PFAF holds that cultivation is unsustainable when the resources consumed exceed the output. The organization’s mission is to find suitable alternative plants for contemporary use through diversified cultivation, promoting sustainable food solutions. PFAF has published specialized books such as “Food Forest Plants for Mediterranean Conditions” and developed the Native Plant Search facility to help users identify plants suited to their specific regions.
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