M.Marzot © FAO/23094/J.Spaull ©

plant genetic resources in action

Plant genetic resources for food and Effective conservation for a wider use are underpinned by the agriculture are an integral component of plant genetic resources. Global Plan of Action for of agricultural biodiversity. Women and men farmers and breeders the Conservation and The genetic diversity contained in need access to plant genetic resources, Sustainable Utilization of traditional varieties and modern cultivars, including alternative crops and new Plant Genetic Resources for crop wild relatives and landraces provide cultivars, and related information Food and Agriculture and the a basis for food production, and also act and technologies, including through International Treaty on Plant as buffer for adaptation and resilience seed provision, to achieve sustainable Genetic Resources for Food in face of climate change. All countries increases in production and income and Agriculture. in the world are interdependent on generation. FAO, with partners, is plant genetic resources and there is a actively strengthening plant breeding continuous need to conserve, exchange capacities and seed supply systems in M.Larinde © and transfer healthy germplasm for developing countries, especially for sustainable agriculture and maintenance those crops that are not addressed of a dynamic agro-ecosystem. by the private sector. These activities J.Fajardo G.Bizzarri © © Fajardo © J. Key International

FAO/M.Marzot Events in Plant Genetic © Resources: A Time Line

2004 £ Entry into force of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) with the signature of 40 Contracting Parties. £ Establishment of the Global Crop Diversity Trust to ensure ex situ crop conservation in perpetuity.

2001 £ After seven years of negotiations in the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA), the FAO Conference adopts the ITPGRFA Whether to face climate change or for Given the vast contribution of plant as a legally binding outcome of providing ecosystem services, genetic resources to humanity, the revision of the International the continued availability of a diverse the main challenge is to mainstream Undertaking on Plant Genetic range of plant genetic resources is the conservation and sustainable use of Resources. necessary to contribute to food production. plant genetic resources, its associated Plant diversity is necessary for the biodiversity and seed related issues into 1996 delivery of ecosystem services such as policies at the national, sub-regional £ The rolling Global Plan of Action for pollination, pest-predator balances, carbon and international levels through capacity the Conservation and Sustainable sequestration and water conservation, development and knowledge management. Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food Agriculture (GPA) among others. Genetically diverse plant FAO provides policy advice and technical adopted by 150 members through the populations and species-rich ecosystems assistance to members in all related Leipzig Declaration. have greater potential to adapt to climate areas and offers a neutral forum for £ Publication of the firstState of the change and for increasing local adaptation intergovernmental discussions on new World’s Plant Genetic Resources for and building ecosystem resilience. and emerging issues. It is committed to Food and Agriculture to provide an promoting and supporting international assessment of the current situation © M.Marzot instruments and partnerships for sustained of plant genetic resources and lay the conservation and use of plant genetic foundation for the GPA. Periodic updating resources to alleviate hunger and make a of this Report is undertaken by FAO to facilitate revision of the GPA in light of positive impact on the livelihoods that emerging issues and trends. depend on them.

1983 £ FAO Conference adopts the International Undertaking on

M.Marzot Plant Genetic Resources as the © first international agreement on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and establishes the CGRFA.

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Further information about the work of FAO on biodiversity is available at: www.fao.org/biodiversity