Planned conservation and utilization of local crop genetic resources is of prime importance for food security, as it permits small-scale farmers of developing countries to have permanent access to seed and planting materials adapted to their region. Conservation of and access to these resources are most important in disaster-prone areas, as farmers in these regions often lose all of their seed stocks during disasters. Furthermore, disasters cause the loss of local varieties or genotyes, hence leading to the erosion of genetic diversity.

Following these calamities, seed of adapted varieties is the major input requested by the agricultural sector. Usually, it is difficult to provide local communities with seed and planting material of well adapted improved varieties or local genotypes, when this indigenous genetic variability is jeopardized or lost. Distribution of grain to be used for seed, instead of good quality seed, produces low yields and increases risk of introducing pests and diseases. Furthermore, the introduction of foreign varieties, which are not adapted to local conditions, leads to low yields and food quality which may not always suit local tastes and preferences. Additionally, the introduction of such foreign varieties induces uncontrolled crossings with local genotypes adapted to the region. This "genetic pollution" is responsible for the definitive loss of local genetic resources and, as a result, of the disruption of the sustainable agricultural system of the region concerned.

In order to better assist countries regularly affected by calamities, it is necessary to implement effective strategies and policies of seed security which are also aimed at protecting local crop genetic diversity of the region and subsequently to reproduce adapted genotypes to rehabilitate agricultural systems affected by disasters.

This workshop was organised under FAO's mandate to facilitate the implementation of the Global Plan of Action (GPA) for the conservation and sustainable utilisation of crop genetic resources for food and agriculture, adopted by the International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources, held in Leipzig, Germany in June, 1996.

The Seed and Plant Genetic Resources Service of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is greatly indebted to the Government of Norway for providing the funding to convene this International Workshop on developing institutional agreements and capacity to assist farmers in disaster situations to restore agricultural systems and seed security activities (Project GCP/INT/660/NOR) and to the many participants who made this Workshop a success.

Special thanks are also addressed to all those who assisted in the implementation of the Workshop by providing information and advice during the initial Planning Meeting convened in February 1998 which provided the background work to prepare for this Workshop.

The organization of this International Wokshop was the responsibility of Dr. Victor N. Bushamuka, FAO Seed Security Consultant, and the preparation of the Workshop's proceedings was accomplished by Dr. William Fiebig, AGPS Agricultural Officer (Seed Security), both working under the technical guidance of Dr. U.G. Menini, Chief of the Seed and Plant Genetic Resources Service.

U.G. Menini
Chief, Seed and Plant Genetic Resources Service
Plant Production and Protection Division
FAO, Rome

AGPS - Seed and Plant Genetic Resources Service (FAO)

CGR - Crop Genetic Resources

CBD - Convention on Biological Diversity

CGIAR - Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research

CIAT - International Centre for Tropical Agriculture

CIMMYT - International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre

CIP - International Potato Centre

FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the Uited Nations

FEWS - Famine Early Warning System (USAID)

GIEWS - Geographic Information and Early Warning System (FAO)

GIS - Geographic Information System

GPA - Global Plan of Action

IARC - International Agricultural Research Center

ICRAF - International Centre for Research in Agroforestry

ICRC - International Committee of the Red Cross

ICRISAT - International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics

IDP - Internally Displaced Persons

IDRC - International Development Research Centre (Canada)

IGO - Inter-Governmental Organization

INGO - International Non-Governmental Organization

IITA - International Institute for Tropical Agriculture

IPGRI - International Plant Genetic Resources Institute

IPR - Intellectual Property Rights

IRRI - International Rice Research Institute

VISTA - International Seed Testing Association

NARS - National Agricultural Research System

NGO - Non-Governmental Organization

OCHA - Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affaires

OFDA - Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (USA)

PGR - Plant Genetic Resources

PGRFA - Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

PRAPACE - Programme Régional d'Amélioration de la Culture de la Pomme de Terre et de la Potate Douce en Afrique Centrale et de l'Est

PVO - Private Voluntary Organization

PVP - Plant Variety Protection

RESAPAC - Réseau pour l'Amélioration du Haricot (Phaseolus vulgaris) dans la Région de l'Afrique Centrale

SADC - Southern African Development Community

SINGER - System-wide Information Network for Genetic Resources

SOH - Seeds of Hope

SSCG - Seed Security Consultative Group

TCOR - Special Relief Operations Service (FAO)

UNDP - United Nations Development Programme

UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

UNICEF - United Nations Children Fund

VAM - Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping

WANA - West Asia and North Africa (Network)

WARDA - West Africa Rice Development Association

WFP - World Food Programme of the United Nations

WIEWS - World Information and Early Warning System (FAO)

WVI - World Vision International