Rome, 29 October 2010- Biodiversity in food and agriculture crops helps farmers face current and future challenges, such as climate change. However, land clearing, population pressures, overgrazing, environmental degradation and changing agricultural practices are eroding plant genetic diversity. FAO's new report State of the World¿s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture ¿ SoWPGR-2¿ covers the current status of plant diversity and how it is being preserved in gene-banks and used by farmers in the fields. It provides a comprehensive overview of recent trends in the conservation of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and use around the world