Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations  
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

Please fix the following errors:

    Help on this page

    The Inventory

    This online version of the Inventory presents, for each measure, the title and a brief description with information on implementing organization(s), start year, objectives, core elements, key outcomes, and, if applicable, lessons learned. It thus allows users to quickly identify those examples that may be of interest to them. A hyperlink to the original submission is provided, which includes additional information, such as on the history and context of the presented measure, challenges encountered, or target groups reached. In this way, users can get a more comprehensive idea of the measure in question and the specific context for which it was developed.
     
    To facilitate navigation, the Inventory is subdivided into eleven categories. Measures or practices that fall under more than one category are listed under each one that applies. Furthermore, information is provided on the type(s) of measures that are typically involved, such as technical, administrative, legal, and/or others, and on the relevant sub-article of Article 9 that is addressed. Additional search options allow searching by country, region, free text and keyword.
     
     
     
     
     
    Clear search form
    Number of records: 233

    51) Strengthening seed delivery systems for dryland cereals and legumes in drought-prone areas of Uganda: the Cluster Granary Seed (CGS) project

    This project implemented in Amuria, Kumi and Kitgum districts of Uganda led by the National Semi-Arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI) in partnership with World Vision Uganda, the National Plant Genetic Resource Centre and farmer groups. It started in 2016 with the goal to contribute to enhancing food security and climate-change adaptation in drought-prone areas by strengthening seed systems of target crops, including sorghum, finger millet, pearl millet, cowpea, pigeon pea, and groundnut. Specific objectives were to (1) assemble the diverse local and improved genetic resources of target crops; (2) establish an effective and sustainable seed delivery model for increasing access to quality seeds and (3) build the capacity of farming communities to produce and conserve such seed. Over 300 local and improved genetic resources of the target crops have been assembled and characterized through farmer-led demonstrations. Thirty farmer groups are now producing and conserving quality seeds for their communities. A ‘cluster granary’ seed delivery model was developed and operationalized by 30 farmer groups. Overall, 600 farmers have directly benefited; indirectly, over 1500 households have benefited through seed sharing, training sessions, voluntary visits to demonstration sites, National Agricultural shows, World Food Day Celebration, ‘Plant Clinics’ and other agriculture-related events.

    Category: 6.Facilitation of farmers’ access to a diversity of PGRFA through community seed banks, seed networks and other measures improving farmers’ choices of a wider diversity of PGRFA.

    Type of measure/practice: Technical

    52) Farmers’ Rights of the Nations and Rural Native Indigenous Peoples

    In February 2009, the Plurinational State of Bolivia adopted the new Political Constitution of the State (Constitución Política del Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia). The new Constitution aims to build the new Plurinational State of Bolivia, respecting the economic, social, legal, political and cultural plurality of its inhabitants. It recognizes and accords the nations and rural native indigenous peoples eighteen rights, related to Farmers’ Rights, as set out in Article 9 of the International Treaty. The executive power of the state, through its ministries, has the obligation to enforce these rights. The fundamental rights of importance to the implementation of Article 9 as set out in International Treaty include: (1) rights to land and territory; (2) rights to exclusive use and exploitation of the renewable natural resources existing in their territories; (3) recognition of their ancestral knowledge and practices; and (4) participation in State bodies and institutions. Key results entail progress in the allocation of land titles, including to women; progress in establishing development plans for the sustainable use of natural resources, including strengthening institutions for monitoring and self-governance; ongoing process of ‘revaluation’ of indigenous knowledge and know-how; and increased participation of indigenous peoples’ representatives in democratic processes and institutions.

    Category: 10.Legal measures for the implementation of Farmers’ Rights, such as legislative measures related to PGRFA.

    Type of measure/practice: Administrative; Legal

    53) The Three Sisters Project

    The ‘Three Sisters’ is an agricultural system in which corn, squash and beans are grown together. This type of system is very old and continues to be used in some communities and family gardens. From 2015 to 2018, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, which is a Department of the Federal Government, in collaboration with the Agricultural Society for Indigenous Food Products, implemented the Three Sisters project. Its main purpose was to study characteristics of varieties of corn, squash and beans and the products derived from them in order to develop added value for indigenous stakeholders, while also studying health benefits. Research activities included studies of traditional knowledge, e.g. on ancestral lineages of the Three Sister crops and their respective seed keepers, combined with studies relating to production, processing and use. Existing instruments identified in Canada were used in the project to select good practices. The project looked for principles, rules and mechanisms that enable Indigenous people to control the circulation of their resources and knowledge at each step of the research project (access, utilization and valorization), and also resulted in new knowledge on health and nutritional benefits and possible ways to protect and preserve genetic material of ancestral crop genetic resources.

    Category: 5.In-situ/on farm conservation and management of PGRFA, such as social and cultural measures, community biodiversity management and conservation sites

    Type of measure/practice: Technical; Administrative

    54) Promoting the implementation of Article 9 through international cooperation and Official Development Assistance (ODA) (II)

    The project "Improving seed systems for smallholder farmers’ food security", funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), is implemented by Bioversity International in Bolivia, Uzbekistan, Burkina Faso, Uganda, and Nepal with the objective of reducing vulnerability of smallholders by improving farmers’ access to diverse and adaptive crop varieties and quality seed and in local seed systems. The project started in 2013 and is now in its second phase (2017 – 2021). It focuses on enhancing capacity of smallholders and related institutions to produce seed of good quality in adequate quantities; developing seed marketing models to enhance value chains and improve seed delivery mechanisms; and improving quality of seed produced by engaging seed quality assurance organizations in the countries to develop alternative quality assurance mechanisms. More policy-related interventions around registration of farmers’ promising varieties and developing quality assurance mechanisms for farmer’s seed systems are also key aspects. Based on lessons learned the intervention strategy is guided by three principles: (1) the activities will primarily seek to ensure sustainability of the project’s interventions; (2) increased efforts will be made to inform and influence decision making processes; (3) actions will be adopted to ensure that possible gender differences are addressed.

    Category: 9.Training, capacity development and public awareness creation

    Type of measure/practice: Technical

    55) Building a vibrant seed sector, improving access to quality seeds and connecting farmers to the market (ISSD Africa)

    ISSD Africa is a research project (2014-2017) coordinated by a consortium of Wageningen Centre of Development Innovation (WCDI) of Wageningen University & Research, the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), the Future Agricultures Consortium and Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development in Nairobi, Kenya, supported by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The project united African seed experts, seed programmes and associated organizations in a community of practice, aiming to increase farmers’ access to quality seed through the development of market-oriented, pluralistic and vibrant seed sectors in Africa. The ISSD approach is a seed sector-wide, demand-driven and inclusive approach, designing interventions tailored to specific crops, value chains and seed systems. During the first project period, action learning focused on four themes: (1) promoting seed entrepreneurship; (2) increasing access to varieties from the public domain; (3) matching global commitments with national realities; and (4) supporting seed sector development under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and the African Union-lead Agriculture, Seed and Biotechnology Program. The community of practice provided a structure for experimenting, sharing and learning, enhancing collaboration and promoting synergy.

    Category: 6.Facilitation of farmers’ access to a diversity of PGRFA through community seed banks, seed networks and other measures improving farmers’ choices of a wider diversity of PGRFA.

    Type of measure/practice: Technical