PLANTS DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN OF SERVICE TO MANKIND. IN PARTICULAR, MEDICINAL PLANTS HAVE BEEN USED TO BENEFIT MANKIND FOR HEALTH, SPIRITUAL AND ENTERTAINMENT REASONS. DATING BACK TO EARLY AGES MEDICINAL PLANTS WERE USED IN CHINESE AND INDIAN CULTURES AS WELL AS PARTS OF THE AFRICAN CONTINENT AS A SOURCE OF MEDICATION TO CURE ILL HEATH CONDITIONS. THERE IS NOW RENEWED INTEREST IN THE USE OF SYNTHETIC MEDICINAL PLANTS IN MODERN DAY MEDICINE. THIS HAVE COME ABOUT IN PART DUE TO INCREASED COST OF CURRENT PHARMACEUTICALS WHICH ARE VERY COSTLY ESPECIALLY FOR THE POOR AND INDIGENT RESULTING IN MANY PEOPLE WORLDWIDE EITHER GOING WITHOUT MEDICATION BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ABLE PURCHASE THEM . THERE IS NOW ALSO A TREND WHERE SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZE FARMS AND RANCHES (SMSDFRS) MOST OF WHICH ARE OWNED AND OPERATED BY MINORITY SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED GROUPS IN THE U S, FORCING MANY TO DIVEST THEIR FARMING ACTIVITY OR SEEK OFF FARM EMPLOYMENT TO PROVIDE FOR THE FAMILY. THIS IS UNFORTUNATE CONSIDERING THAT SMALL FARMS ON A GLOBAL SCALE PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE FOOD NEXUS PROVIDING THE FOOD FOR NEEDS OF 4/5 OF THE PEOPLE IN THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. NOTWITHSTANDING SMALL FARMS ARE NOT NECESSARILY INEFFICIENT, AS STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT CAN BE JUST AS EFFICIENT OR EVEN MORE SO COMPARED TO LARGE FARMS PRODUCING THE SAME COMMODITY. THE REASONS FOR THE LOSS OF PROFITS THEY ARE EXPERIENCING LIES WITHIN SOCIOECONOMIC AND BIOPHYSICAL CHALLENGES WITH WHICH THEY ARE BEING CONFRONTED. THUS, THERE IS A NEED TO FIND ALTERNATIVE ENTERPRISE OR TECHNOLOGIES THAT WILL ENABLE THEM TO OVERCOME THESE LOSSES. BASED ON THE REVENUE BEING GENERATED THROUGH THE MARKETING OF MEDICINAL PLANTS TO THE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES BY THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND THE CONCOMITANT INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR SAME, WELL ADDRESSED BY THE LITERATURE, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SMSDFRS IN THE U S CAN INCREASE THEIR PROFITS IF THEY EMBARK ON PRODUCTION AND MARKETING OF MEDICINAL PLANTS AS A CROP ENTERPRISE. THUS, THEPURPOSE OF THIS PROPOSAL IS TO IS TO CONDUCT RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROJECT THAT WILL ENABLE THESE FARMS TO REALIZE BETTER PROFITS. THE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION ACTIVITIES WILL BE CARRIED OUT AT FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL UNIVERSITY FARM IN QUINCY FLORIDA, OVER 3 - 5 YEARS TO SELECT ADAPTABLE MEDICINAL CROP SPECIES, CONDUCT CULTURAL RESEARCH, DETERMINE THE PRODUCTION COST, DETERMINE THE CONTENT HEALTH VALUE, OF HEALTH COMPOUND IN THE SELECTED PLANTS AND CARRYOUT EXTENSION ACTIVITIES INCLUDING ON-FARM DEMONSTRATION TO INFORM SMALL FARMERS, THE PUBLIC AND OTHERS ABOUT MEDICINAL PLANTS AS A CROP. TO DO THIS OUR MEDICINAL PLANTS TEAM WILL COLLABORATE WITH PARTICIPATING FARMERS, FAMU COPPS AND A COLLEAGUE, DR. MENTREDDY TO ACHIEVE THE STATED OBJECTIVES.