Towards a Strategic and Integrated
Management of Plant Genetic
Resources for Food Security and
Sustainable Development
.
Dr Kakoli Ghosh, Agricultural Officer,
Plant Production and Protection Division, FAO, Rome
1
Fundamental aspects of PGRFA
CONSERVATION OF
PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES
FARMERS
AGRO-ECOSYSTEM
2
Key dates towards a strategic management of PGRFA
1996, Leipzig International Conference on Plant Genetic
Resources

→ Adoption of the first State of the World’s Plan Genetic
Resources (SOW)
→ Adoption of the Global Plan of Action (GPA)
1999, FAO Conference

→ Need to periodically assess the SOW in order to facilitate the
analysis of changing needs and gaps, as well as to contribute to
the adjustment of the rolling GPA
2001, FAO Conference

→
→
Adoption of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic
Resources for Food and Agriculture (IT-PGRFA)
The GPA became part of the IT-PGRGA as a supporting
component
3
The Global Plan of Action for Conservation and Sustainable Use of PGRFA
(www.globalplanofaction.org)
4
Drawn from findings and needs identified through the State of the
World, the Global Plan of Action is a set of recommendations and
activities in all PGRFA activities
Coherent framework for 20
priority activity areas in
conservation and sustainable
utilization, institutions and
capacity-building
Rolling plan that needs to be
periodically updated based
on the State of the World’s
PGRFA
Better management, cooperation, and
coordination of all PGRFA-related
activities
All NENA countries have adopted the GPA
5
The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
(www.planttreaty.org)
6
Main objective of the IT-PGRFA
Efficient and effective management of PGRFA for
food security and sustainable management
Enhanced conservation
coupled with sustainable
use of PGRFA
Access to PGR and
Equitable sharing of the
benefits arising from the
use of PGR
Members of the IT-PGRFA:
- take on the obligation to implement the IT-PGRFA
- are called to cooperate in the periodic reassessment
of the SOW-PGRFA in order to facilitate the updating
of the rolling Global Plan of Action (Art. 14 and 17.3)
7
Structure of the SOW-2
8
Periodic Assessment of the SOW
The first Report on the State of the World’s PGRFA represented the first
comprehensive global assessment of the status and use of PGRFA
Update of the first
SOW with a focus on
the changes occurred
since 1996
Periodic
Assessment
Adjustment of the 20
priority activity areas of
the GPA taking into
account changing needs
and gaps
Assisting national, regional and global efforts for effective conservation
and sustainable utilization of PGR to achieve food security, rural
development and sustainable agriculture
Contribution to the implementation of the IT-PGRFA
9
The preparatory process of the SOW-2 is:
• Fully integrated with the process of monitoring the implementation of the GPA
• Country driven (Country Reports, NISM)
• Conducted in collaboration with various partners (IPGRI/Bioversity, genebanks,
CGIAR centers, etc.)
• Guided by the Inter-Governmental Working Group on Plant Genetic Resources of
the Commission - Fourth Session: 15-17 July 2009
103 countries have prepared a Country Report on the State of PGRFA
15 other countries reports are being prepared or possibly expected
(March 2009)
10
Country Reports received from 103 countries, including 16
country reports from NENA countries
11
Thematic
Background Studies
Country
Reports
National Information
Sharing Mechanisms
Focusing on Key Changes since 1996
COUNTRY-DRIVEN
PROCESS
Analysis of changing
needs and gaps
Second State
of the World
on PGRFA
Integration of new
emerging issues
Updating of the rolling Global Plan of Action
Strategic and Integrated Management of Plant Genetic
Resources Food and Agriculture
Implementation of the IT-PGRFA
Food security, rural development, sustainable
agriculture, protection of environment
12
Gaps and challenges as reported by Countries
1. Fragmentation in the national approach to PGRFA conservation and use
→ No linkages between in situ conservation, crop improvement programmes, ex situ
conservation, seed systems and markets
2. Poor documentation, outdated information, and lack of knowledge support
3. Lack of institutional capacities for the elaboration, coordination, and
implementation of adequate policies and programmes on PGRFA
4. Limited stakeholder participation and lack of partnership between PGR users and
seed producers
5. Lack of legislation and limited implementation of legislation
Hinders the efficiency of all PGRFA related activities and
sustainable agricultural development at the country level
Hinders the implementation of the IT-PGRFA
13
Needs and requests as reported by Countries
Recognition of the equal importance and the strong
interconnections between PGR conservation, crop variety
improvement, and seed production and delivery systems
Challenges of Climate
Change, Food Security and
Sustainable Development
Need for a strategic and integrated plant genetic
resources management system for better
utilization of PGRFA benefits
National integrated
strategies
establishing all
necessary linkages
Strong and
centralized
institutions at all
levels
The IT-PGRFA enables efficient and strategic management of
PGRFA at the global level that can serve as the model for the
national-level strategies for efficient PGRFA management 14
The Near East and North African Countries
and the IT-PGRFA


All NENA countries are members of the IT-PGRFA (ratification or accession)
except : Azerbaidjan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyztan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,
Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Somalia and Iraq
The development of a legislation for accessing and exchanging genetic
resources is at an advanced stage in Syria and drafts are under-development in
Morocco, Lebanon, and Egypt
! Challenges:
1. Encourage member countries of the NENA region to develop and adopt
appropriate legislation on access and benefit-sharing
2. Encourage non-member countries of the NENA region to join the IT-PGRFA
3. Encourage the development of a Strategic and Integrated Management of
Plant Genetic Resources for Food Security and Sustainable Development
15
CONSERVATION OF
PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES
FARMERS
CULTIVARS
ON-FARM
IN SITU
EMERGENCY
RESTORATION
FARMERS
TRIALS
SEED
GROWERS
AGRO-ECOSYSTEM
FARMER
BREEDING
OWN SEED
PARTICIPATORY
PLANT BREEDING
SEED FOR
PRODUCTION
NEW CULTIVARS
Thank You
for your kind attention
17