NSP - News and Events
 

News and Events
  • National Focal Points for PGRFA 
    FAO invites countries to confirm/nominate National Focal Points for the monitoring of the Second Global Plan of Action for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the preparation of country reports for The Third Report on the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. 
    For more information: • Ar • En • Fr • Sp
  • The revised Genebank Standards for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture were endorsed at the14th Regular Session of the CGRFA, Rome, 15-19 April 2013
  • Two side events were held during the Fifth Session of the Governing Body of the International Treaty (GB-5) in Muscat, Oman, 24-28 September 2013:
    • The Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture: 30 years and beyond
    • Promoting Public-Private Partnership for Pre-Breeding organized by the International Treaty Secretariat, FAO and the Italian National Academy of Sciences
  • A side event on Promoting and Expanding the Use of Underutilized Fruit and Vegetable Diversity was held during The 3rd International Conference on Neglected and Underutilized Species 25–27 September 2013 in Accra, Ghana. Read the presentation on Project Proposal Development on NUS 
  • Report of a Technical Consultation to Promote Public-Private Partnerships for Pre-Breeding 
    Mutually beneficial public-private partnerships, as an integral part of crop improvement, are critically important for pre-breeding. These partnerships are needed for enhancing the adaptive capacities of cropping systems to climate change and for increasing productivities required for feeding an ever increasing global population. Aiming to address this, a technical consultation on promoting public-private partnerships for pre-breeding was held in Rome, Italy in May 2013. The Report can be downloaded here.
  • Official launch of the CEMAC Seeds Catalogue. Read more here
  • Producing quality seeds means quality yields
    Central America has 29 new local seed businesses thanks to an FAO project for improved seeds. Read more here
  • Expo Andean Seeds
    A successful exposition of seed from Andean crops was organized by FAO as part of the activities of the project “Andean Seeds” in collaboration with the Ministry of Rural Development and Land (MDRyT). For more information in Spanish here
  • Seed marketing with SMS 
    FAO is using novel ways of delivering quality seed to farmers. Last week, national staff from Ivory Coast participated in a training workshop on mobile technology-based information systems, which will help to enhance seed marketing in the country. More here.
  • Global Consultation on Agrobiodiversity Addresses South-South Cooperation. Read more here
  • Briefing on Seed System Security Assessment (SSSA): What is it and how we plan to promote it in FAO Emergency Operations?
    AGP, TCE and Catholic Relief Services - MEXICO Room, D.211 Friday, 23 November, 2012, 14:00 - 15:00hrs
    Read more here
  • Sixth Session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
    Rome, Italy, 14 – 16 November 2012 Read more here
  • Regional workshop about Establishment of Seed Policies
    A regional workshop about Establishment of Seed Policies was held in Bolivia from 27 to 29 August 2012. It was organized in cooperation by the Seeds and Plant Genetic Resources unit in Rome and the AGP Team of Chile as part of the technical hub created. Representatives from Ministries of Agriculture from 14 countries were present, most of them decision makers from the national seed authorities. Read more here
  • Technical Workshop “Towards the establishment of a Global Network for in situ conservation and on farm management of Plant Genetic Resources for food and agriculture”
    FAO headquarters, Rome, 13 November 2012
    Read more here
  • Following the 2010 International Conference on Agricultural Biotechnologies in Developing Countries (ABDC-10) FAO is in the process of preparing a short publication on "Case Studies of use of Agricultural Biotechnologies in Developing Countries". The aim is to document and disseminate high impact instances where non-GMO agricultural biotechnologies are used to serve the needs of smallholder farmers in developing countries.
    For the crops sector, the publication will include five case studies on the application of agricultural biotechnologies to crop production and protection. FAO is opening a competition to identify the five case studies and the writers that will document them. Please find more detailed information on participation here.
  • FAO-EPSO Consultation
    Plant Sciences for Sustainable Crop Production: Strengthening Partnerships between Europe and Developing Countries
    Rome, 25-27 June, 2012
    A consultation on “Plant Sciences for Sustainable Crop Production: Strengthening Partnerships between Europe and Developing Countries” is being organized in collaboration with the European Plant Science Organization (EPSO).
    Read more here
  • FAO – ICARDA collaboration for sustainable crop production and livelihoods in the Near East Region
    In the occasion of the 31st Regional Conference for the Near East, a side event took place with the purpose to inform about ICARDA’s current research portfolio and provide insight into one of the new CGIAR Research Programmes led by ICARDA to address the challenges of food insecurity, to share experiences on ongoing collaboration between ICARDA and FAO and to identify areas for future collaboration, focusing on agricultural research for development in the Near East region.
    Read more here.
  • The Arab and Near East Plant Protection Newsletter, ANEPPNEL Number 55, April 2012
    The Arab and Near East Plant Protection Newsletter (ANEPPNEL) is jointly published Triple a year by the Arab Society for Plant Protection and the Near East Regional Office of the FAO. Read more: [ar] [en]
  • Edible aroids network – a successful first year
    The European Union (EU) has contributed €3 million over five years to the International Network for Edible Aroids (INEA). INEA is a consortium of scientists and growers from all over the world who are using edible aroids (taros) as a model to improve clonally propagated crops of the tropics. The project began in April 2011. Read more
  • Review of Draft Genebank Standards
    On the request of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, the Draft Genebank Standards for the Conservation of Non-Orthodox Seeds and Clonally-Propagated Plants has been prepared in cooperation with the International Treaty, Bioversity International, other CGIAR centers, Global Crop Diversity Trust and relevant international institutions. In order to ensure a thorough review of the current draft ( available in English only), FAO Members and National Focal Points for Plant Genetic Resources are invited (en, fr, sp) to provide inputs and suggestions by 14 May 2012 by email: [email protected], or by fax: (+39) 06570-56499.
    The document may be downloaded here.
  • Mainstreaming the continuum approach to the management of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture through national strategy
    Global food security could be imperilled by the combined pressures from the effects of continually evolving climatic conditions, demographics and other socio-economic factors, the demands of the livestock, bioenergy and fibre industries for food-based substrates, the static or decreasing availability of natural resources for agriculture and the impracticality of increased use of economically and environmentally costly agricultural inputs. The optimal harnessing of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) in manners that translate their repertoire of hidden potentials into significantly enhanced crop productivities has been severally identified as crucial to achieving the required considerably significant increases in food production. Read the abstract here.
  • FAO moves to halt plant genetic erosion : New impetus for global plant diversity
  • The Second Global Plan of Action for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture was adopted by the FAO Council in Rome on 29 November 2011 as a new global framework aiming at the conservation and sustainable use of the world's diversity of plants on which food and agriculture depend. It underlines the commitment of the governments to ensure that management of plant diversity continues to be a key element in the global efforts to alleviate poverty and increase food security in times of climate change. Read more. Download the publication here.
  • The National Information Sharing Mechanisms on plant genetic resources of Indonesia can now be accessed at www.pgrfa.org/gpa/idn.
    This database represents an unmatched repository of information on plant genetic resources in the country and an important contribution to the conservation and sustainable use of these resources so vital for agricultural development and food security.
  • Genebank Standards
    At the request of the Commission on Genetic resources for Food and Agriculture, the updated Draft Revised Genebank Standards for the Conservation of Orthodox Seeds which contains a new section on 'Standards for evaluation' is open for comments till 19 Dec 2011. Download here
  • Fao assistance in developing the seeds sector in Central Africa
    Since 2008 FAO has been assisting member countries of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community – CEMAC (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Republic of Congo) in developing and harmonizing their seed regulations and policies. Read more here.
  • The Ministry of Agriculture and FAO host Seed Policy workshop at CARICentral stakeholders from the agriculture sector in Liberia met this week to discuss a seed policy for Liberia. Read more here.
  • Rebuild small seed enterprisesFarmers' seed ventures key to food security in developing countries. Read more here
  •  The Global Partnership Initiative for Plant Breeding Capacity Building (GIPB) is pleased to announce a new e-learning course - Pre-breeding for Effective Use of Plant Genetic Resources.
    Read more or download the introductory brochure here.
  • Improving Rice Production in West Africa
    In Response to Rising of Food Prices The Government of Spain, through FAO, is funding a regional project to help increase sustainable rice production in West Africa. The project objectives will be reached through technical support and capacity building of stakeholders with special emphasis on vulnerable groups such as small farmers, women and small private companies. Visit the website
  • Icarda Seed Unit
  • Training Manual on Spatial Analysis of Plant Diversity and Distribution from Bioversity International
  • Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Thirteenth Regular Session, Rome, 18-22 July 2011
  • Workshop on West African Seed Policy, Benin, 5 to 6 May at Africa Rice, 2011
  • Fifth Session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture Rome, 27- 29 April 2011
  • The Fourth Regular Session of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture will be held in Bali, Indonesia, from 14 to 18 March 2011 at the Bali International Convention Center.
    It will be preceded by two days of regional consultations on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13.
  • FAO Expert Consultation - Seed Policy Formulation
    An expert consultation workshop on seed policy formulation will be organized by FAO and ENSE/INRAN from 28 to 30 March in Milan. It will gather up to 30 participants including seed policy experts, Ministry of Agriculture officials, researchers, seed experts, representatives of...[more]
  • The Second Report on State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture was launched on the 26 October, 2010 at FAO HQ. It received wide press coverage. See more here.
  • The Crop Genebank Knowledge Base (CGKB) is the first online resource for genebank managers and conservationists that provides easy access to crop specific knowledge and best practices for germplasm management and a vast collection of publications and training manuals in one place.
    Nine crops – banana, barley, cassava, chickpea, forage grasses and legumes, maize, rice, wheat – are already featured in detail, guiding through all steps of their conservation in a genebank. In addition specific regeneration guidelines are provided for 22 crops. These crop-specific best practices and relevant information have been compiled by genebank experts of the CGIAR centres and national genebanks world-wide and peer-reviewed by crop experts.
  • New online learning tool - International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
    Developments in international and national law and policy over the past 15 years have significantly changed the working environment for those who make decisions about plant genetic resources. For example, activities such as collecting samples now require an understanding of access legislation, while plant genetic resources research cannot be undertaken without considering relevant intellectual property rights.
    Access the module.
  • Kew's 'Difficult' Seeds Project
    The ‘Difficult’ Seeds Project works with crop gene banks and farmers to conserve plants used for food and agriculture in Africa. The aims of the project are to improve the identification, handling, storage and use of seeds that have described as ‘difficult’ by gene bank managers and technicians.
  • Assessing the security of seed systems in Haiti
    For years, and especially after the 12 January Earthquake, many institutions have implemented seed relief interventions in Haiti. FAO has participated in June 2010 in the implementation of a Seed System Security Assessment in order to better target future seed interventions [More..]
  • Status and Options for Regional GMOs Detection Platform: A Benchmark for the Region
    In the Near East and North Africa region, agriculture is a key element of the economy. Most of the countries are committed to implementation of the Global Plan of Action for Conservation and Sustainable use of Plant Genetic Resources for  Food and Agriculture for boosting production and development.
    FAO has approved a two year regional project (TCP/RAB/3202) entitled “Strengthening capacities towards the establishment of a regional platform for the detection of genetically modified organisms».
    The aim of this project is to strengthen regional capacities and to enhance regional information exchange and dialogue in biosafety that would lead to the establishment of a regional platform for handling and managing GMO detection through increased regional cooperation. [More..]
  • Afghanistan enacts a seed law
    The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has enacted a Seed Law published by the Ministry of Justice in official Gazette 1005 of 16 December 2009. This new Seed Law covers true agricultural seeds as well as vegetatively propagated planting materials. Comprising 4 Chapters and 29 Articles, the Seed Law will regulate seed production and marketing, seed trade (import and export) as well as all seed-related research activities in the country [More...].
  • International Seed Trade Conference ECOSA 2009
    2-4 December 2009 - Antalya, TURKEY
    ECOSA 2009 is aimed at exploring and promoting seed trade within the ECO region and beyond. Agriculture has a significant share in GDP of the ECO countries ranging from 11-50% and employing 39% of economically active population. There is great potential for agricultural expansion and diversification bringing opportunities for the seed sector.
    CLik here to have a brief description.
    Click here to see the agenda.
    Visit the web site.
  • First West and Central African technical consultation on vegetable seeds 25-26 November 2009 - Abidjan, COTE D'IVOIRE
    Participants come from 12 countries and are composed of private seed enterprises and national research institutions with the participation of AFSTA.
    Click here to see the agenda.
    Click here to download the concept note.
  • Regional Consultation and Workshop on Seed Production
    24-26 November 2009 - Budapest, HUNGARY
    This workshop will involve countries of Eastern and Central Europe to review their national seed sector, indentify gaps and explore how these gaps can be address through a national, subregional and regional approaches by strengthening the networking between the countries.
    Click here to download the programme.
  • Twelfth Regular Session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture19-23 October 2009 - FAO, Rome, Italy
  • Second World Seed Conference
    8-10 September 2009 - FAO, Rome, Italy
  • Fourth Session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
    15-17 July 2009 - FAO, Rome, Italy
  • Third Session of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
    1-5 June 2009 - Tunis, TUNISIA