Animal genetic resources for food and agriculture are an essential part of the basis for global food security. The diversity of livestock breeds enables adaptations, for example to changing environmental conditions or consumer demands and genetic developments of existing breeding programmes. However, this diversity is constantly decreasing and the institutional and technical capacity to adequately manage this livestock breed diversity needs support in many countries, especially in developing countries. The Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) has created an important instrument in the form of the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources, which was developed on the basis of the first State of the World Report on Animal Genetic Resources. The action plan contains 23 strategic priorities for action in four focus areas, for which a global assessment of implementation is carried out every ten years. The third global assessment of livestock breed diversity is currently underway.
The aim of the project is to produce the draft third State of the World Report based on the data and information reported by member states on the global status of animal genetic resources and the thematic studies. To assist countries in providing relevant information, cost-effective methods for monitoring livestock breed diversity (including honeybees) will be tested and applied and a series of virtual and face-to-face training events on the sustainable management of animal genetic resources will be organised. This will support the national coordinators in fulfilling the reporting requirements for the implementation of the Global Plan of Action. The overall objective of the project is to increase the capacity of national coordinators, particularly in developing countries, and to promote regional networking among stakeholders.
Project duration: 15.12.2022 - 31.12.2025
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The Global Crop Conservation Strategies play a significant role in many ways: they facilitate exchanges among genebanks and influence the development of the global system of ex situ conservation and the multilateral system of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA). In recent years, the Global Crop Diversity Trust (Crop Trust) has coordinated the development of 40 of these strategies. An important goal is to improve coordination of conservation efforts among stakeholders, such as gene banks and their users. It has become apparent that there is currently insufficient awareness of conservation strategies among Treaty stakeholders and that the results and recommendations from the strategies are not automatically taken into account.
Therefore, the aim of the project is to integrate the conservation strategies into the processes of the Treaty in order to enable evidence-based decision-making by the actors and to support their implementation. The project will, among other things, analyse the role and guiding function of conservation strategies and their ownership. It will also raise awareness by disseminating information on conservation strategies in relevant Treaty fora, through webinars, and through online materials.
Project duration: 15.12.2022 – 31.12.2025
Many of the species in the European flora are wild species related to our cultivated plants (crop wild relatives). They are not only a component of ecosystems, but also an important resource for plant breeding. However, natural populations are increasingly threatened by climate change and other causes. Conservation of these species takes place in situ, i.e. in their natural habitats, where they can continue to adapt to changing environmental conditions so that genetic diversity is maintained. In addition to conservation, a basic prerequisite for the targeted use of these genetic resources inbreeding and crop improvement is, among other things, standardized documentation and the availability of this information. The aim of the project is to enable the documentation of crop wild relative populations conserved in situ in Europe according to agreed in situ descriptors in the European Internet search Catalogue EURISCO. This user-oriented provision will significantly facilitate and improve conservation.
The project is embedded in the European Cooperation Program for Plant Genetic Resources (ECPGR). The aim of ECPGR is to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture in Europe.
Project duration: 15.11.2021 – 31.12.2023
More information on the European Cooperative Programme on Plant Genetic Resources
At the beginning of 2019, the FAO published the first report on the State of the World‘s Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture (SoWBFA Report), which was produced under the leadership of the Commission for Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA). The report describes the state and current management of biodiversity for food and agriculture (BFA) and shows what future requirements will exist with regard to sustainable use and conservation. The aim of the project is to improve the conservation and sustainable use of BFA and to continue the SoWBFA process. The CGRFA member states will be supported in the development and implementation of actions, which should result in the adoption of a global plan of action (GPA) by the FAO conference. This includes the organisation of four regional capacity-building workshops for increased awareness of the state of biodiversity for food and agriculture. Up to five front-runner countries will be identified for the development of a national strategy for genetic resources for food and agriculture and supported in the development and implementation of national strategies, action plans and projects. In addition, guidelines for country action will be developed to help the countries prepare national strategies and action plans and implement national measures.
Project duration: 01.09.2020 – 30.06.2024
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Based on the first World Status Report on Forest Genetic Resources, the CGRFA (Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture) agreed in April 2013 on a Global Action Plan for the Conservation, Sustainable Use and Development of Forest Genetic Resources. At the beginning of 2019, the first report on the implementation of the Global Plan of Action was adopted and the member states were called upon to further advance its implementation. Currently, the member states of the CGRFA are requested to prepare the national reports for the preparation of the second World Status Report on Forest Genetic Resources and to provide the information for the second report on the implementation of the Global Plan of Action. The aim of the project is to support the National Focal Points for forest genetic resources in the preparation of the national reports and in providing the information for the second report on the implementation of the Global Plan of Action. The project provides technical assistance and training through regional workshops. Additional information on forest genetic resources will be gathered and analysed through expert meetings and reviews of scientific literature for the preparation of the report. The overall objective of the project is to increase the capacity of the National Focal Points, especially in developing countries, and to promote regional networking of stakeholders. The activities and results of the project make an important contribution to the conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources and to the UN sustainability goals.
Project duration: 01.07.2020 - 30.06.2023
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Between 2017 and 2019, two ECPGR projects have set the basis for the formulation, consensus building and establishment of an agreed framework at ECPGR level for the implementation of a European Evaluation Network (EVA). The first project involved representatives of the private and public breeding sectors to discuss how collaboration may be improved Europe-wide to increase the utilization of plant genetic resources in plant breeding. A European Evaluation Network was considered of strategic importance as it would present an opportunity to position plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) at a strategic level within Europe. The second project was dedicated to the organization of two ECPGR workshops for the preparation of a European Evaluation Network (EVA) on wheat/barley and a vegetable crop.
In this context, the aim of the project is the implementation of EVA on wheat, barley, vegetables (carrot, lettuce and pepper) and maize under the coordination of the ECPGR Secretariat. The implementation will allow to consolidate a long-term cooperation between genebanks, research institutions and the breeding sector (public and private) within the European cooperative programme. The expected achievements will allow a leap forward in the level of efficiency and services offered by European genebanks, consolidating interaction between conservation and use of PGRFA.
Project duration: 01.07.2019 - 31.12.2024
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