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

    206) Networking for growing crop diversity

    NordGen, established 1979, is the joint Nordic genebank for ex situ collections (seeds) of agricultural and horticultural crops. Throughout the years, individual researchers and farmers have requested and obtained seed samples from NordGen for further multiplication and cultivation. Focus has primarily been on heritage or redundant cultivars. Selection of superior plants within evaluated landraces and/or locally grown cultivars has taken place. Activities include both seed production for maintaining expertise and methodology in the field, as well as growing (niche) products for consumers (flour, flakes, whole or crushed grain). The networks provide their own need of seed. Seed is shared within the networks, as existing legislation restricts putting seed on the market.

    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: Administrative; Legal

    207) Centers for Bio-knowledge and Agricultural Development (CBDA)

    The national agricultural research organization (Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIAP) together with universities and association representing farmers and indigenous peoples established the Centers for Bio-knowledge and Agricultural Development (CBDAs). The CBDAs are aimed at: investigating the agrobiodiversity richness in the area in a participatory manner; contributing to the management and conservation of native seeds and propagating materials; multiplying seeds of diverse origin (including ‘formal’ and peasant seed) to contribute to food security and climate-change adaptation; and capacity and awareness development for farmers and society in general on conservation, management and sustainable use of agrobiodiversity. Between 2003 and 2016, five CBDAs were established, providing a physical space in which activities can take place. Key results include suitable varieties of potatoes, corn, beans, cacao, coffee, peanuts, and cassava in their agroecological conditions; seed production of native species and varieties, and re-introduction of these native crops to farmers’ fields. The main lesson learned is that the CBDA must have a management plan that allows sustainability; legal commitment of the State to finance CBDA’ activities is also important, as is the case of Ecuador, which enforces the Law for Agrobiodiversity, Seeds and Promotion of Sustainable Agriculture.

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

    Type of measure/practice: Technical; Administrative

    208) Law for Agrobiodiversity, Seeds and Promotion of Sustainable Agriculture (2017)

    This law was developed under the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and entered into force in 2017. The main objectives are to protect, revitalize and promote dynamic conservation of agrobiodiversity; ensure production, free and permanent access to quality seeds, including by strengthening scientific research and promoting sustainable agricultural production models. It also respect the diverse identities, knowledge and traditions that guarantee the availability of healthy, diverse, nutritious and culturally appropriate food to achieve food sovereignty and contribute to the ‘Good Living’ (‘Sumak Kawsay’). It guarantees the free use and exchange of peasant seeds, and establishes rules for the production, certification and commercialization of certified seeds. The law is a normative instrument that would allow the conservation of diverse agricultural biodiversity species of nutritional and economic importance, as well as with industrial potentials. The law consists of three chapters: (1) conservation of native seed; (2) regulation of certified seed; and (3) sustainable agricultural practices. It includes a clarification of rights in the context of PGRFA as well as provisions for the conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA, including monitoring, research and innovation activities; knowledge sharing and seed exchange. A technical committee is currently developing the implementation modalities of this new law.

    Category: 10.Legal measures for the implementation of Farmers’ Rights, such as legislative measures related to PGRFA.

    Type of measure/practice: Legal

    209) Declaration of the territory of the Cotacachi canton, Ecuador, as cultural heritage for agrobiodiversity

    The declaration of the territory of the Cotacachi canton, Ecuador, as cultural heritage for agrobiodiversity was started in 2010 and accomplished in 2014, following years of preparatory work done by the Unión de Organizaciones Campesinas e Indígenas de Cotacachi (UNORCAC), an association of farmers’ and indigenous peoples’ organizations, in collaboration with the Municipal Government of Cotacachi. The main objective is to promote agrobiodiversity conservation, along with related traditional knowledge and ancestral practices, as a strategy to defend collective economic, social and cultural rights of the indigenous communities of Cotacachi. Core components include the declaration of the territory as cultural heritage for agrobiodiversity and approval of a safeguard plan. The latter supports research and monitoring of agrobiodiversity; restitution of local seeds; training for seed producers and seed exchange fairs; marketing of agrobiodiversity products, valorization of traditional cuisine and gastronomic fairs; value addition to native crops; as well as awareness building and educational activities. Lessons learned include that actions taken should be led by participating peasant organizations; there should be a clear priority on farmers’ needs, especially needs of women farmers; furthermore, cooperation with research organizations is essential; research should have a direct and immediate relationship with farmers' needs.

    Category: 1.Recognition of local and indigenous communities’, farmers’ contributions to conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA, such as awards and recognition of custodian/guardian farmers

    Type of measure/practice: Technical; Administrative

    210) La chacra – an alternative for the rescue, conservation and use of agrobiodiversity in Amazonian villages

    Starting from 2016, the Amazonian Research Station of the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIAP), a public research organization, in cooperation with the local governments of the three provinces of Sucumbíos, Orellana and Napo, has initiated work on the conservation of a traditional agrobiodiversity-rich production system known as ‘chacra’. The objective is to strengthen these production systems and to provide incentives for farmers through enhanced productivity and income generation from local crops. The chacra cultivation system is based on the integration of four components: human, plant, animal and geophysical (soil, water and air); a good integration of these components results in improved biodiversity-rich habitats. The chacra system plays an important role in biodiversity conservation and as a source of germplasm; it is further of importance for climate-change adaptation and differentiated value-chain development. Around 500 Amazonian farms have been reached by activities for strengthening the chacra system. Many of these farms cultivate local species to produce food, fibre, medicine, dyes and wood; in addition, activities for value-addition have resulted in processing and marketing of coffee from the chacra system; producers are currently participating in both national and international fairs.

    Category: 5.In-situ/on farm conservation and management of PGRFA, such as social and cultural measures, community biodiversity management and conservation sites

    Type of measure/practice: Technical; Administrative