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

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    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.
     
     
     
     
     
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    Number of records: 233

    61) Participatory plant breeding to develop improved varieties of rice

    The Indonesian Center for Rice Research (ICRR) conducted trainings on the application of rice plant breeding technique to farmer groups, by applying participatory plant breeding approaches. The objective was to transfer techniques and skills to farmers on how to cross rice plants and identify advantageous lines. Core components included selection of parental lines, crossing techniques, selection, purification, yield observation, and multi-environmental trials. Breeding activities began in 2001 and farmers continued with selection activities independently from 2001 to 2009. In 2010, the Indonesian Farmer Community of Integrated Pest Management (IPPHTI) and the FIELD Foundation cooperated with ICRR to further develop the skills of farmer-breeders. In 2011, lines were purified and selected, based on yield observations. In 2012, some varieties were entered in the rice consortium program of ICRR on multi-environmental trials for potential high yielding and pest and disease resistant lines. In 2014, some of these varieties were proposed for registration and some were successfully released.

    Category: 7.Participatory approaches to research on PGRFA, including characterization and evaluation, participatory plant breeding and variety selection

    Type of measure/practice: Technical; Administrative

    62) Innovative decentralised seed systems for bread-wheat evolutionary populations

    Evolutionary Populations (EPs) of bread wheat, also known as Composite Cross Populations (CCPs), were used in a decentralised and participatory plant breeding Programme in the frame of the EU-funded research project SOLIBAM, starting from 2010. The population used was constituted at the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Syria, with the aim to provide farmers with a highly diverse population that would enable to adapt to a wide range of environments and farming systems. The population was made from 2000 crosses derived from 200 parental lines. As part of another EU project (DIVERSIFOOD, 2015-2018), the Italian seed network Rete Semi Rurali (RSR) set up field trials at four locations to evaluate this EP alongside local varieties and variety mixtures. These trials included participatory evaluation and other on-farm activities, in which more than 350 farmers had participated. In 2017, the first batch of certified population seed became available on the seed market and the number of farmers who were able to access the EP (named ‘SOLIBAM tenero’) doubled. Furthermore, the EP started to enter both short and long value chains for the production of flour and baking products, such as bread or pizza.

    Category: 7.Participatory approaches to research on PGRFA, including characterization and evaluation, participatory plant breeding and variety selection

    Type of measure/practice: Technical; Administrative

    63) National IPR tools and measures supporting Article 9 of the ITPGRFA: the farmers’ privilege

    In Switzerland, several intellectual property right tools and measures are mutually supportive to Article 9 of the Treaty, including the farmers’ privilege. The farmers’ privilege was introduced in 2008 in the Federal Law on the Protection of New Varieties, which is under the lead of the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG). The Federal Council has determined 23 plant species to which it applies. Farmers who make use of the farmers’ privilege do not have to pay any remuneration to the holder of the plant breeders’ rights. In parallel, the farmers’ privilege was also introduced in 2008 in the Federal Act of 25 June 1954 on Patents for Inventions, which is under the lead of the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI). Farmers who have acquired plant reproduction material placed on the market by the proprietor of the patent or with his consent may reproduce, on their own farm, the product from this material cultivated on their own farm. The farmers’ privileges have been developed based on UPOV ’91 and other relevant international IPR agreements but not on provisions of the ITPGRFA. Yet, they are mutually supportive to Article 9 of the ITPGRFA.

    Category: 1.Recognition of local and indigenous communities’, farmers’ contributions to conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA, such as awards and recognition of custodian/guardian farmers

    Type of measure/practice: Administrative; Legal

    64) Specialised regime on Access and Benefit-sharing (ABS) – implementation of the ITPGRFA

    Since 2016, the Groupe d'Étude et de contrôle des Variétés Et des Semences (GEVES), the organization for variety testing and protection as well as seed certification in France, together with research and private sector partners, has initiated several measures for the implementation of Farmers’ Rights. GEVES is also responsible for the national coordination of plant genetic resources. Measures include participation of farmers in decision-making; recognition of ‘curators’ of plant genetic resources collections at national level; and establishing a national collection of PGRFA. Rules for the implementation of the ITPGRFA are laid down in Articles L.660-1 to L.660-4 of the Rural Code, stating that the conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA are of ‘general interest’. Cultural aspect have been recognized as important elements of national collections, and detailed criteria for taking the contributions of farmers, gardeners and other stakeholders into account are currently being set up (July 2019). These stakeholders can apply by filling an application; expertise is also implicitly shown if farmers participate in breeding programs, programs for on-farm conservation or other similar activities. In addition, a national coordination body was set up and a sub-committee for the conservation of PGRFA created within the French Technical Plant Breeding Committee (CTPS).

    Category: 4.Catalogues, registries and other forms of documentation of PGRFA and protection of traditional knowledge

    Type of measure/practice: Administrative; Legal; Others

    65) Solidarity-based approach to agricultural development

    The Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forestry, in collaboration with several related government agencies, has implemented the ‘Green Morocco Plan’ (Plan Maroc Vert) since 2008. The main objective was to enhance economic and social performance of the agricultural sector based on mobilization of public and private investments. One pillar of the plan addresses farmers operating at small or very small scale and is structured around three axes: (1) reconversion of agricultural systems towards high-value crops: (2) agricultural intensification; and (3) diversification projects, such as projects supporting production of honey or medicinal plants. To date, 985 projects have been launched targeting 733,000 small-scale farmers. Activities included, inter alia, the plantation of 388,000 ha of olive, fig, and almond trees and cactus; the installation of 417 processing units (e.g. for crushing and drying); irrigation facilities, water points for livestock and other infrastructure. Key outcomes and lessons learned include increased income of farmers; better representation of farmers through federations participating in regional and national steering and decision-making committees; appreciation of local agricultural products and traditional know-how; increased awareness among the general public of the value of local products; and facilitation of their marketing, both nationally and internationally.

    Category: 3.Approaches to encourage income-generating activities to support farmers’ conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA

    Type of measure/practice: Technical