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.

The main focus of the Second Global Plan of Action is to strengthen conservation and sustainable use of plants and seed systems and the crucial linkages between them, through a combination of appropriate policies, use of scientific information, farmers’ knowledge and action. It contains a set of 18 inter-related Priority Activities prepared on the basis of regional consultations and the gaps and needs identified by the Second Report on the State of  the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and agreed under the aegis of  FAO Commission Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

The Second Global Plan of Action will accelerate the implementation of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. However, a full implementation of all the priorities as agreed by governments, will require commitment by each country in line with national programmes and priorities. Synergies will also need to be improved through active involvement of relevant international and regional organizations, countries, donors, educationists, scientists, farmers’ and breeders’ organizations, civil society, indigenous and local communities and the private sector. Success implementation will greatly contribute to the stewardship of the world’s wealth of genetic resources for the benefit of present and future generations.