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Global Plan of Action 168. Assessment:
Broadening the genetic base of crops can contribute to increasing
stability and performance in crops. However, from the perspective
of any individual breeder, company or institute, the costs
of incorporating new and diverse germplasm into already adapted
material may outweigh the benefits they could realise. Such
benefits are often realised only in the long-term and accrue
to society in general as well as to other plant breeders.
Due to the nature of many genetic enhancement and general
pre-breeding activities, international collaboration and public
support are warranted. 169. Approaches to
genetic enhancement include: (a) introgression of
useful agronomic traits identified through characterization
or evaluation into locally adapted or elite material for further
use in breeding programmes (b) base-broadening
of breeders material through incorporation of wide genetic
diversity. 170. Long-term
objectives: To increase food security and improve
farmers livelihoods through the development of better plant
varieties. To increase the utilization of genetic resources
and thereby provide incentives for their conservation. To
reduce genetic uniformity in crop varieties through the utilization
of wild relatives, local materials and/or modern varieties.
To increase sustainability of agricultural systems and the
capacity for adaptation to unexpected environmental changes
171. Intermediate
objectives: To increase the genetic diversity available
in breeders populations through appropriate strategies of
introgression (base-broadening). 172. Policy/strategy:
Governments, international organizations, non-government organizations
and funding sources should recognize the importance of providing
long-term funding and logistical support to pre-breeding,
genetic enhancement and base-broadening activities. 173. Capacity:
Support should be given to national systems, regional networks,
International Agricultural Research Centres, non-government
organizations, universities and other relevant organizations
to carry out pre-breeding and genetic enhancement projects.
Priority should be given to addressing problems identified
by crop and regional networks, other competent scientific
bodies and institutions, and farmers organizations. Initial
efforts should focus on the most pressing problems identified
in 15 crops of international and regional significance. 174. Research/technology:
Institutions, should further develop methodologies for genetic
enhancement including pre-breeding, and broadly disseminate
these methodologies. 175. Coordination/administration:
Activities should be planned and undertaken in close collaboration
with national programmes with the collaboration of crop and
regional networks, other scientific bodies and institutions,
and farmers organizations. Close communication with plant
breeders and other scientists in both the public and private
sector should be encouraged. 176. This activity
is closely linked with: |
