|
Global Plan of Action 258.
Assessment: Many of the world's plant genetic
resources for food and agriculture are insufficiently and/or
poorly documented relative to what should be known about them
for optimal conservation, access and use. Documentation
of wild relatives of crops and onfarm genetic resources located
in situ is particularly poor. In
ex situ collections, basic identification such as accession
number and taxonomic name; where and how material originated;
descrip tions of basic morphological and agronomic characters;
current viability test results; regeneration cycles; where
the material has been distributed; and pertinent ethnobotanical
information, farmer and indigenous knowledge, has been maintained
on material conserved. A
genebank or in situ programme lacking sufficiently trained
personnel, proper infrastructure or sustainable resources
to manage genetic resources data cannot fully conserve or
promote the full use of its plant genetic resources for food
and agriculture. This
situation is exacerbated due to the fact that at the national
and institutional level, data management and documentation
activities are often given an inappropriately low priority
in the allocation of funding. In
the proper format, data can be used not only to assist conservation
efforts, but to "add value'' to plant genetic resources for
food and agriculture. 259.
Historically, development in agriculture has not included
a strong linkage to development in communication infrastructure,
information use and information management. With
rapid changes in information technology, development could
proceed more quickly by providing sustainable communication
and information access. Lack
of access isolates individuals and institutes and prevents
their being part of a visible framework in which their work
can be seen as an integral component. 260.
Longterm objectives: To facilitate increased
access to and better management and utilization of plant genetic
resources for food and agriculture through the assembly, exchange,
and provision of useful information. 261.
To establish a reliable and accurate plant genetic resources
for food and agriculture data exchange network through the
development of expertise and infrastructure at the global,
regional, national, and facility levels. 262.
To help countries assemble and better manage their existing
information and to facilitate their access to internationally
and regionally held information. 263.
Intermediate objectives: To assemble available
data and information in a usable form using effective methodologies,
databases and protocols. 264.
To establish regional and crop based data management and exchange
networks between genebanks and other partners in PGR programmes
to assist with provision of documentation systems and training
of personnel. 265.
To develop data and documentation system strategies with and
for genebanks and other partners in PGR programmes and breeding
programmes and establish, as feasible, genebank database management
systems at appropriate genebanks. 266.
To support access to the international electronic communication
infrastructure by genebanks and other partners in PGR programmes
and breeding programmes. 267.
Policy/strategy: High priority should be given
at all levels to developing, staffing, and maintaining useful
and userfriendly documentation and information systems. 268.
Documentation, information and dissemination systems which
are cost effective and easy to access, should also be developed
in order to facilitate technology transfer. 269.
Information on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture
will be acquired and disseminated in accordance with Article
8(j) of the Convention on Biological Diversity. 270.
Capacity: Planning assistance should be provided
to national programmes to encourage the development of rational
and compatible strategies for information management. Such
strategies need not be electronic or computerbased, but computerization
and linkages to other institutions and programmes through
Internet should be an ultimate goal for many facilities. 271.
Existing data and information should be assembled and put
in a usable and easily accessible form and verified. Such
material is often found in genebanks and research stations
in scientists' notebooks and reports or contained in antiquated,
inaccessible systems. 272.
Access by national programmes to basic scientific, research,
and bibliographic information should be facilitated. 273.
Genebanks should have sufficient personnel to manage information
and make it easily and widely accessible to users according
to national goals. Education
and training in data management and electronic communications
should be provided at the genebank level, with emphasis on
data management and analysis, connectivity, and data exchange.
Such
activities (including training of staff) should be supported
as appropriate and feasible while considering the need to
rationalize genetic resources efforts at the global and regional
levels. 274.
Appropriate selfteaching manuals should be developed as needed.
Technical
support should be provided on a continuing basis to improve
management of data and information and to allow for adoption
of new, appropriate technologies. 275.
Research/technology: Research should be supported
to: (a)
develop appropriate and lowcost methodologies and technologies
for compilation and exchange of data; (b)
develop methods for adapting these technologies at the local
level as appropriate; (c)
develop means to facilitate easy access and use of data by
electronic means and through Internet; (d)
develop means and methodologies to make useful information
easily available to non specialists, including NGOs, farmers'
and indigenous peoples' organizations. 276.
Coordination/administration: Coordination and
collaboration should be further developed in the context of
the World Information and Early Warning System being developed
by FAO, and building upon available expertise in national
programmes as well as the SINGER initiative within the CGIAR,
the documentation work being done regionally by IPGRI, UNEP's
Geographical Information System, UNESCO's Biosphere Information
System, work being undertaken through the Convention on Biological
Diversity. Such
coordination should also seek to involve regional and crop
networks and other users and conservers of plant genetic resources
for food and agriculture, including the private sector and
other NGOs, as active participants and partners. 277.
Global and regional assessment, oversight, planning, and coordination
is needed to promote cost efficiency and effectiveness. 278.
This activity is closely linked with: |
