Plant Production and Protection Division - AGP
Seed and Plant Genetic Resources Service - AGPS

CROP RELATED NETWORKS

    Global and regional crop-related networks were established, between 1992 and 1995, in close collaboration with FAO Regional Offices and relevant scientific organizations. Descriptions of the individual crop-related networks are given below. The innovative aspect of the newly launched networks is that they promote a coordinated approach to identifying, evaluating and conserving the genetic variability of selected crop species, with the aim of improving cultivars and their adaptation to farmers' needs. The networks combine a thorough knowledge of the agricultural conditions of farmers in network member countries, with an understanding of the genetic potential of the crop species in question, and use a "farmers-to-farmers" basis for the development of conservation and utilisation activities. That involves the collection from farmers of locally adapted germplasm, its improvement and its return to the same farmers, or farmers in similar biotopes. The work of several of these networks is also guided by an economic intelligence function (an analysis of market factors), which helps farmers to improve quality and suit their production to market requirements.

INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL CROP-RELATED NETWORKS SUPPORTED BY FAO

Global Citrus Germplasm Network - Meetings
The global technical cooperation network was formally constituted, under the aegis of the FAO, to be addressed to all countries interested in citrus germplasm conservation and utilisation. The Network will function on a voluntary basis and it will involve national institutions as well as existing regional and inter-regional networks dealing with citrus genetic resources conservation and utilisation.
CITRUS Meetings in 1998, 1999 and 2000


Global Network on Mushrooms
It was established to strengthen international collaboration among specialized institutions, to constitute a coordinated global system of mushroom germplasm collections under the aegis of FAO. Further aims were to facilitate technical communication and the exchange of strains of cultivated mushroom and of germplasm of other mushroom species of interest for food and agriculture. The establishment of a more comprehensive and coordinated information mechanism, which would make mushroom strains, together with appropriate production technologies, available to as many interested countries and growers as possible, is also an aim.

Global Network on Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Germplasm Conservation and Utilisation (REMUFRUT)
The network should function on a voluntary basis involving the participation of interested national institutions as well as regional and inter-regional networks dealing with TSTF genetic resource conservation and utilisation.

The International Network on Cactus Pear will carry out a series of activities, including a survey of members' existing cactus genetic resource collections, preparation of a "Descriptor list for cactus pear" and "Guidelines for improving and facilitating the exchange of cactus material for germplasm collections", and establishment of germplasm repositories in various locations. A basic germplasm information system for network members will also be established, following the criteria of the FAO World Information and Early Warning System on Plant Genetic Resources.

The Olive Genetic Variability Network has been set up as a working group under the existing ESCORENA (European System of Cooperation Research Networks in Agriculture) Olive Network. The group is undertaking activities related to all aspects of the identification, evaluation and conservation of olive germplasm. It will assess the value of the world's available olive genetic variability, define priorities for its conservation, describe facilities available in each country for conserving this germplasm and work out ways to exchange information through voluntary intercountry collaboration. The working group, which includes national institutions dealing with olives from all over the world, is preparing a world list of olive germplasm, covering both cultivars and wild relatives, with descriptions of their characteristics.

The Inter-regional Cooperative Network on Nuts (under ESCORENA) with its transversal Working Group on Tree Nut Genetic Resources Identification, Evaluation and Conservation assists its member countries in further developing a comprehensive programme of nut germplasm conservation. It interacts actively with their nut production sectors to better guide a common and coordinated programme of nut genetic resource utilisation. The transversal working group concentrates on prepararing nut germplasm catalogues, initially for walnut, almond and pistachio and subsequently for hazelnut, pecan, pinenut and chestnut.

The Mediterranean Fruit Inter-country Network (MESFIN), with its sub-network on Plant Genetic Resources Conservation, was established under ESCORENA, with the aim of promoting the identification, evaluation and conservation of the existing genetic diversity of tropical and subtropical fruit species cultivated in the Mediterranean region, in order to make it available for utilisation in improvement programmes to increase and improve fruit production. Ongoing activities include identification of the native, old and new genetic variability existing in the region suitable for conservation; evaluation, on the basis of a set of main identified criteria (disease-resistances, abiotic stress resistance, fruit characteristics and productivity potential); definition of long, medium, and short-term conservation methodologies (seed, field, in vitro, and cryopreservation); the exchange of information and planting materials among participating institutions; and specialized training courses on conservation and evaluation. The network collaborates closely with the Under-utilized Tropical Fruit Trees Network in Asia (UFTANET), to develop global-scale activities for the conservation of tropical fruit germplasm.

Efforts are underway to establish a Network of Traditional Crops for Southern African Countries. The network will seek to establish the state of indigenous under-utilized cereals and pseudocereals, grain legumes, vegetables and root and tuber crops in the region. It will also recommend priority species for exploration, collection, conservation, evaluation and utilization.

FAO supports and collaborates with the West Asia and North Africa Network (WANA), to identify common problems and factors hampering the effective conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources in individual countries. It also aims to formulate a strategy and prioritize collaborative research work for collecting, conserving, evaluating, documenting and exchanging germplasm. IPGRI and ICARDA are also involved.

FAO cooperates with IICA and IPGRI and national programmes in the following networks in Central and South America and the Caribbean:

For further information please contact Mr. Arturo J. Martinez, Service Chief.

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