In Situ and Ex Situ Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources and Traditional Knowledge

The efficient conservation and judicious use of plant genetic resources and related traditional knowledge is vital for food, health, and nutritional security. These resources could support acclimatization of primary food crops to climate change impacts. To prevent their genetic erosion, a well-devised strong linkage between in situ resource conservation, collection and ex situ conservation in gene banks and their utilization for genetic improvement through research and breeding is required for their subsequent availability to farmer, pharmaceutical and seed community. Conserving plant genetic resources in situ as well as ex situ ensures efficient explorations in order to implement the International Treaty and Global Plan of Action on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. It is important to support in situ/on-farm conservation of agroecosystems because ex situ conservation cannot replicate the evolutionary processes and cultural practices but can act as crucial reservoir to safeguard them from calamities.