Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations  
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

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    The Inventory

    This online version of the Inventory presents, for each measure, the title and a brief description with information on implementing organization(s), start year, objectives, core elements, key outcomes, and, if applicable, lessons learned. It thus allows users to quickly identify those examples that may be of interest to them. A hyperlink to the original submission is provided, which includes additional information, such as on the history and context of the presented measure, challenges encountered, or target groups reached. In this way, users can get a more comprehensive idea of the measure in question and the specific context for which it was developed.
     
    To facilitate navigation, the Inventory is subdivided into eleven categories. Measures or practices that fall under more than one category are listed under each one that applies. Furthermore, information is provided on the type(s) of measures that are typically involved, such as technical, administrative, legal, and/or others, and on the relevant sub-article of Article 9 that is addressed. Additional search options allow searching by country, region, free text and keyword.
     
     
     
     
     
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    Number of records: 233

    186) Establishing and linking Community Seed Banks with the national genebank for conservation and policy support

    Since 2007, Bioversity International, as partner of various projects supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), has been working with the National Genebank and Plant Genetic Resources Center of Uganda (NARO-PGRC) to link ex situ conservation of PGRFA with in situ conservation through community seed banks. The objective was to enhance farmers’ access to diverse, high-quality seed from farmers’ seed systems, and to strengthen policy support for pluralistic approaches to seed system development. Core activities included capacity development for farmers on seed production and marketing, participatory variety selection as well as policy review and development. Five community seed banks have been established so far, serving around 3000 farmers. Recent policies, including Uganda’s draft PGRFA Policy of 2016 and the National Seed Policy of 2019 recognize the importance of a pluralistic seed system and the need to integrate formal and informal seed systems, also emphasizing the importance of community seed banks.

    Category: 6.Facilitation of farmers’ access to a diversity of PGRFA through community seed banks, seed networks and other measures improving farmers’ choices of a wider diversity of PGRFA.

    Type of measure/practice: Technical

    187) Participatory tree domestication of indigenous tree species

    Since 1990, the World Agroforestry Centre, together with national research, education and training institutions as well as farmers and farmers’ organizations, has developed a decentralized approach for participatory tree domestication to improve indigenous tree species in the African Sahel region and to encourage their cultivation. Core components include priority setting exercises carried out since the early 1990’s, through which farmers identified preferred tree species, based on criteria such as nutritional, medicinal and income-generating values. Furthermore, potential ‘plus mother trees’ with the preferred characteristics were identified. Tree improvement based on these accessions is being carried out through Rural Resource Centres (RRCs), where farmers are trained on how to propagate and manage the seedlings in the nurseries; seedlings are established on community/farmers’ land, and farmers are actively involved in the evaluation. Improved material is owned by the communities and farmers can freely distribute the improved material among themselves. A value chain training component on fruit processing and related business skills is also incorporated to enhance the economic benefits from indigenous tree cultivation. Key outcomes include improved skills of farmers in tree propagation and management, conservation and sustainable use of tree genetic resources and enhanced recognition and use of indigenous knowledge.

    Category: 7.Participatory approaches to research on PGRFA, including characterization and evaluation, participatory plant breeding and variety selection

    Type of measure/practice: Technical

    188) Elaboration and publication of the Spanish Inventory of Traditional Knowledge related to Agricultural Biodiversity

    This publication is the first volume of the Spanish Inventory of Traditional Knowledge. Its main objective is to disseminate and revalue the wealth of this cultural and material heritage associated with agricultural biodiversity in Spain. Throughout the chapters of this work, the characteristics of traditional knowledge relating to agricultural biodiversity and the species and varieties included in this inventory are described; and an estimate is made regarding their current conservation status in Spain. The methodology followed is detailed and 50 inventory sheets are presented, of which 30 refer to species and 20 to varieties. The preparation of this Inventory has been one of the steps taken by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to address the commitments acquired with the signing of the ITPGRFA and to implement national legislation in the area of conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources. Published in October 2018, this work is the result of the collaboration of a multidisciplinary team, with participants from different public institutions, mainly research centres and universities.

    Category: 4.Catalogues, registries and other forms of documentation of PGRFA and protection of traditional knowledge

    Type of measure/practice: Technical

    189) Participation of farmers' associations in decision-making related to PGRFA in Spain

    The Commission of the National Programme for the Conservation and Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA) was created in 2017. The aim of the Commission is to ensure coordination of actions of the different national administrations responsible for the conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA. Among its members are representatives of the main professional agricultural organizations and farmers’ associations, which favors the participation of farmers in decision-making on national aspects relating to access, management, conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA in Spain.

    Category: 8.Farmers’ participation in decision-making at local, national and sub-regional, regional and international levels

    Type of measure/practice: Administrative

    190) Distribution of plant genetic resources conserved in the National Center for Plant Genetic Resources of the National Institute of Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (CRF-INIA) to farmers for direct use

    Since its creation in 1981, the National Centre for Plant Genetic Resources (CRF), part of the National Institute of Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA), conserves ex situ, in addition to the basic collection, active collections of cereals, legumes and industrial crops, and makes them available to users, e.g. for use in research or breeding programmes, and also to farmers for direct use. The objective is to promote the direct use of PGRFA in the form in which they are conserved, thereby enabling their dynamic conservation. The CRF, in response to requests from users, distributes seeds provided there is enough quantity. It further considers the legal status of the requested material, in accordance with the ITPGRFA, Nagoya Protocol and international conventions on the protection of intellectual property. To fulfil requests from farmers, a simplified Material Transfer Agreement is signed, in which the conditions for use are clearly stated: the seed or planting material obtained under this agreement is to be used only for its cultivation and can only be transferred for this same purpose. The maintenance of biodiversity in the genebanks, especially as far as local varieties are concerned, is of great interest for some groups of farmers.

    Category: 6.Facilitation of farmers’ access to a diversity of PGRFA through community seed banks, seed networks and other measures improving farmers’ choices of a wider diversity of PGRFA.

    Type of measure/practice: Technical