The global crop diversity trust: developping strategies towards efficient and effective ex situ PGR conservation

Abstract

The Global Crop Diversity Trust (the Trust) aims to support the long-term maintenance of an efficient and effective arrangement for the ex situ conservation of the most important crop collections around the world. To achieve this goal, the Trust is supporting the development of conservation strategies that will guide the allocation of resources to the most important and needy crop diversity collections. The strategies are identifying appropriate roles for the holders of collections as well as for other individuals and institutions concerned with the conservation, regeneration, documentation and distribution of crop diversity. The Trust is supporting two complementary and mutually reinforcing approaches. One is to identify key ex situ collections of globally important crops (Annex 1 of the ITPGRFA) on a region-by-region basis. The other is to prioritize collections on a crop-by-crop basis at the global level. This process brings together the managers of plant genetic resources and other experts to develop and implement the most cost efficient and effective strategies for ensuring the long-term conservation and availability of the crops that are vital to the world’s food security. The strategy should consider the most appropriate approach to managing the eligible collections, given their location and available resources, and the standards they should be expected to fulfill in the management of the given crop. Finally, it will propose a model for sharing responsibilities for certain activities amongst collection holders and service providers, and identify and prioritize collections for long-term conservation support. In addition, they will identify priority needs for upgrading support.