LOGO AG
 

Training module on conservation and sustainable use under the International Treaty now available online

29/02/2012The Secretariat of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture has just published an educational module on conservation and sustainable use as part of a series of training materials for the implementation of the Treaty.

This second module is designed for technical stakeholders, such as gene bank managers and breeders, as well as stakeholders with a political background, such as policy makers and civil servants. It was produced under the coordination of the Treaty’s Secretariat, in a participatory process that involved over 20 experts from different stakeholder groups including international institutions, academia, Contracting Parties, civil society organizations and the seed industry.

The new publication explains the Treaty’s provisions that deal with conservation and sustainable use of crop diversity in detail, and presents their links with other mechanisms and instruments, in particular the recently adopted Second Global Plan of Action on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The module further provides technical background on different methods for the conservation and sustainable use of crop diversity, and illustrates a wide range of options and examples for putting the provisions of the Treaty into practice at international, regional, national and local level.

The entire series of training materials aims at strengthening stakeholders’ capacities for the operation of the Treaty and enhancing information and raising awareness among other interested parties. The different target learner groups of the modules include policy makers and their staff, civil servants, gene bank staff, plant breeders, farmers’ organizations, other civil society organizations, the media, academia and prospective donors.

The need for capacity development on the Treaty has been voiced by many countries and other stakeholder groups, and the Governing Body of the Treaty has officially welcomed the Secretariat’s work on training materials at its Fourth Session in March 2011.

The Secretariat is currently seeking additional funds for translation of the materials into other FAO languages, as well as for the development of further support materials such as customizable slide shows for trainers and distance learning materials. For information on opportunities to contribute to the realization of these activities please contact the Secretariat.

Educational module 2 can be downloaded online: http://www.planttreaty.org/educational_modules

For more information please contact: Francisco Lopez ([email protected]), tel. +39 06 570 56343