WIEWS - World Information and Early Warning System on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

Background

WIEWS is a global information system on PGRFA facilitating information exchange as well as periodic assessments of the state of the world’s PGRFA, which FAO prepares at the request and under the guidance of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA). It includes:

WIEWS Global Network of National Focal Points The National Focal Points monitor the implementation of the Second Global Plan of Action for PGRFA and prepare at regular intervals county reports on the state of PGRFA. The National Focal Points, appointed by Governments, provide their reports through a dedicated Reporting System. View list of National Focal Points.

WIEWS INSTCODE More than 17,000 national, regional and international institutes and organizations dealing with the conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA have been registered by FAO and assigned a WIEWS INSTCODE. The WIEWS INSTCODE is used worldwide in the exchange of information about germplasm conserved ex situ as unique identifier for the germplasm holding organization. Search the current list of WIEWS INSTCODES or download the complete list.  A new WIEWS INSTCODE can  be generated online by contacting your country National Focal Point or [email protected].

WIEWS database The WIEWS database is populated with information from direct contributions made by countries. It contains information on:

  • the implementation by countries of the 18 priority activities of the Second Global Plan of Action for PGRFA, based on indicators adopted  by the CGRFA. 24 indicators focus on PGRFA conservation; 20 indicators on sustainable use of PGRFA; and 19 indicators on institutional and human capacity (see Appendix C of CGRFA-14/13/Report).
  • more than 25,000 PGRFA experts and managers;
  • about 5.9 million accessions from over 7,000 genera conserved under medium- or long-term conditions in over 870 genebanks from 115 countries and 17 international/regional centres; 
  • more than 20,000 cultivars and 19,000 publications.