to clarify:
the “general” database that I mentioned above, as I imagine it, it will be open just for the developers and researchers. I just think that it will be very useful for us to have a quick check of an idea if we have access to a great number of random scans.
It could work in conjunction with the forum. For example if someone has an idea of “Geographic identification agricultural products” he could mention it on the forum, and then the any of the contributors wanted could scan easily 3-4 plants and “throw” the scans in to that “general” database and then the one with the idea could do a quick check to see if there is any potential there.