Stefano Diulgheroff

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FAO and Plant Genetic Resources Information
Achievements and Perspectives between WIEWS and
EURISCO

• Stefano Diulgheroff
• FAO

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Content
Most significant contributions from FAO toward
the conservation, exchange and sustainable
utilization of PGRFA, and along with it the
exchange of information, during the last two
decades, are chronologically summarized in this
presentation.On-going information-related PGRFA
activities.WIEWS and EURISCO collaboration.
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FAO for PGRFA in the 80s
1983 FAO Conference established the
intergovernmental Commission on Plant Genetic
Resources (CPGR) and adopted a non-binding
International Undertaking on PGR.
1987 FAO developed the World Information and
Early Warning System (WIEWS) on PGRFA.
1989 International Network of Ex Situ
Collections under the Auspices of FAO was
established.
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FAO for PGRFA in the 90s
1994 Twelve Centres of the CGIAR signed
agreements with FAO, placing most of their
collections (5105 accessions) in the
International Network. Negotiations for the
revision of the International Undertaking began.
1995 FAO Conference broadened the mandate of
the CPGR to cover all components of
agro-biodiversity of relevance to food and
agriculture. CPGR became the Commission on
Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
(CGRFA).
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FAO for PGRFA in the 90s (continued)
1994-95 Country reports on state of PGRFA, as
well as sub-regional and regional synthesis were
prepared. 1996 FAO organized the IV
International Technical Conference on Plant
Genetic Resources. The Global Plan of Action for
the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of
PGRFA is adopted by 150 countries at the
Conference. The first report on the State of
the World's PGRFA was prepared.
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FAO for PGRFA in the 90s (continued)
1997 The CGRFA established the
Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on
Plant Genetic Resources (ITWG-PGR), a subsidiary
body to deal with specific matters. WIEWS on the
Internet.
1998 The First Report on the State of the
World's PGRFA made available both as a
publication and as a CD-ROM. Monitoring of GPA
implementation carried out 110 countries
reports.
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FAO for PGRFA in the 00s
1999 WIEWS Technical Meetings were carried out
in Europe (Prague), North Africa (Rabat), Asia
(New Delhi) and Latin America (Turrialba). 2000
151 countries officially nominated/confirmed a
National Focal Point on GPA implementation. 110
reports on GPA implementation were received as
part of the GPA monitoring activities. New WIEWS
interface with remote updating made available on
the web.
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FAO for PGRFA in the 00s (continued)

• 2001
• The FAO Conference adopted the International
  Treaty on PGRFA.
• It includes general provisions for
• PGRFA Conservation, Exploration, Collection,
  Characterization,
• Evaluation and Documentation (Art.5) and
• PGRFA Sustainable use (Art.6).
• Supporting components of the Treaty are inter
  alia
• the Global Plan of Action (Art. 14), and
• the Global Information System on PGRFA (Art. 17).

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FAO for PGRFA in the 00s (continued)
2002 77 countries and the European Community
signed the International Treaty on
PGRFA. 2003 As at 9 of September 2003, 29
countries had already ratified the International
Treaty on PGRFA. As the Treaty will enter into
force 90 days after ratification by 40 states, it
is likely to come into force in early 2004.
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International Treaty on PGRFA
Exchange of information The Contracting
Parties agree to make available information which
shall, inter alia , encompass catalogues and
inventories, ..., including characterization,
evaluation and utilization, regarding those PGRFA
under the Multilateral System. (Art. 13.2 a)
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International Treaty on PGRFA
Art. 14 - Global Plan of Action Recognizing
that the rolling Global Plan of Action ... is
important to this Treaty, Contracting Parties
should promote its effective implementation,
including through national actions and, as
appropriate, international cooperation to provide
a coherent framework, inter alia, for
capacity-building, technology transfer and
exchange of information, taking into account the
provisions of Article 13.
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International Treaty on PGRFA
Art. 17 - Global Information System on
PGRFA The Contracting Parties shall cooperate
to develop and strengthen a global information
system to facilitate the exchange of information,
based on existing information systems, on
scientific, technical and environmental
matters. In developing the Global Information
System, cooperation will be sought with the
CBD-CHM and with CGRFA in its periodic
reassessment of the state of the worlds PGRFA in
order to facilitate the updating of the rolling
Global Plan of Action referred to in Article 14.
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On going activities...
Three integrated information-related processes
are being implemented Monitoring GPA
implementation pilot testing a country-driven,
participatory process to establish National
Info-Sharing Mechanisms on GPA implementation Sec
ond report on the State of the Worlds
PGRFA Update of WIEWS
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On going activities...
Monitoring GPA implementation Indicators and
reporting format for monitoring GPA
implementation were developed and submitted to
CGRFA-9. Computer application and guidelines for
the establishment of a National Info-Sharing
Mechanism on GPA implementation made available in
Czech, English, French, German, Spanish. Pilot
testing of the new GPA monitoring approach began
in Ecuador, Cuba, Kenya, Ghana, Czech Republic,
Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Germany and in seven
South and South-East Asian countries. Global
survey on PGRFA Networks inventory and
self-assessment initiated.
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On going activities...
Second Report on State of the Worlds
PGRFA Preparation of guidelines for country
reports. Preparation of agreed thematic
studies.
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On going activities...
Update of WIEWS A global survey to update
institutions, contacts and germplasm holdings was
initiated in 2002. WIEWS relies heavily for
its continuing updating on contributions
from National WIEWS Administrators in 128
countries (70 countries in 2000), and 521
Institute WIEWS Administrators.
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All 39 EPGRIS National Inventories Focal Persons
have been granted writing privileges for their
own country under WIEWS. 15 NIFP have used WIEWS
web application to update information.
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Contribution to WIEWS

since 2001
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• The improved national capacity in
• leading a participatory process such as National
  Inventories
• development and in
• data management and quality control, as well as
  
• the availability of periodically updated
  information, which will be automatically
  downloaded and aggregated (into WIEWS metadata
  format) through Eurisco, are among the most
  significant aspects that will benefit and
  strengthen the WIEWS community.