The implementation of the Swiss National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (NPA-PGRFA) started in 1999. The Ordinance on Conservation and Sustainable Use of PGRFA referring to the NPA-PGRFA entered into force in 2015. It provides a stronger legal framework for the measures for conservation of PGRFA and regulates the management of the national gene bank of PGRFA in Switzerland. NPA-PGRFA strategies and guidelines are defined and implemented based on a multi-stakeholder approach, together with a wide range of private and public institutions. Farmers and farmers’ organizations can participate and profit in many ways from the NPA-PGRFA through promoted activities such as the maintenance and marketing of landraces/farmers' varieties; participatory plant breeding/participatory varietal selection; seed-exchange networks; facilitated access to information on plant genetic diversity so as capacity building. Three hundred projects have been completed so far, with 100 on-going projects in collaboration with regional and national organizations. These projects are listed in the national genebank. Key measures for the sustainable use of PGRFA are the characterization and evaluation of plant genetic resources as well as ensuring high phytosanitary standards for propagation material and promoting PGRFA for niche production.
| Most relevant categories | - Approaches to encourage income-generating activities to support farmers’ conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA
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| Also relevant categories | - Financial contributions to support farmers conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA such as contributions to benefit-sharing funds
- Catalogues, registries and other forms of documentation of PGRFA and protection of traditional knowledge
- In-situ/on farm conservation and management of PGRFA, such as social and cultural measures, community biodiversity management and conservation sites
- Participatory approaches to research on PGRFA, including characterization and evaluation, participatory plant breeding and variety selection
- Training, capacity development and public awareness creation
- Legal measures for the implementation of Farmers’ Rights, such as legislative measures related to PGRFA.
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| Institution/organization | Government organization |
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| Provision of Art. 9 addressed | Art. 9.1; Art. 9.2a; Art. 9.2b; Art. 9.2c; Art. 9.3 |
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| Types | Technical; Administrative; Legal |
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| Countries | Switzerland |
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| Regions | Europe |
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| Keywords | Capacity development; Crop diversity; Farming communities; Local varieties; PGRFA; Seed network; Sustainable use |
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| Resource link | https://www.fao.org/3/ca8226en/ca8226en.pdf |
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