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

    101) Farmers' Rights to Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture: Implementation of the Plant Treaty and the Nagoya Protocol in Bulgaria (RIGHTS)

    The Norwegian Centre for Genetic Resources at the Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), together with the Institute of Plant Genetic Resources ‘K. Malkov’ in Bulgaria, participated in a project on the implementation of the Plant Treaty and the Nagoya Protocol (2015-2016). The purpose was to propose elements for a national strategy supporting Farmers' Rights in the context of the International Treaty and the Nagoya Protocol, both signed and ratified by Bulgaria. The Norwegian partner actively engaged in workshops and seminars and offered a study tour to Norway for a group of six Bulgarian representatives of target groups. They visited the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, NIBIO, farmers as well as organizations that are part of value chains using PGRFA. Further activities included developing a report on best practices for the realization of Farmers' Rights; a list of measures for implementation of Farmers' Rights; a draft strategy for PGRFA in Bulgaria; and capacity building workshops. The project activities contributed to enhancing awareness and capacities regarding key aspects of Farmers’ Rights, including methods to study policies and processes and to reach consensus on important topics and issues of relevance for farmers' access to PGRFA.

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

    Type of measure/practice: Technical

    102) Establishing community-based Seed Growers Groups (SGGs) to produce certified seeds of improved and traditional varieties

    Establishment of Community-based Seed Growers Groups (SGGs) was one key activity of the Seed Development Project, which was implemented between 2012 and 2018 based on cooperation between government organizations and authorities of North and South Kordofan States with responsibilities in the areas of seed and plant genetic resources, together with several public and private sector partners, such as service providers and local extension teams. The objective was to increase crop productivity of smallholder farmers through adoption of certified seeds of crops grown under rain-fed conditions in both states. The Project had four complementary and reinforcing components: (1) strengthening the regulatory environment and relevant government institutions; (2) enhancing the performance of the seed production system by providing the necessary support; (3) market development, including through support to farmers’ groups and associations and private sector enterprises providing relevant technologies, goods and services; and (4) project management. 17 community-based SGGs including 853 farmers (38% women) were established and enabled to produce certified seeds of improved and traditional varieties; produced seed is sold to seed companies, neighbors and farmers in other areas of Sudan, such as West Kordofan and Darfur. These achievements have resulted in a significant improvement in food security nationally.

    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; Administrative

    103) Development of biodiversity, seed and culinary fairs

    The Instituto de Investigaciones Fundamentales en Agricultura Tropical ‘Alejandro de Humboldt’ (INIFAT), together with the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Agrícolas (INCA) and several other organizations, have organized several biodiversity, seed and culinary fairs as part of their research activities. The first seed and biodiversity fairs were organized in the Biosphere Reserves ‘Sierra del Rosario’ and ‘Cuchilla del Toa’ in 1999; culinary fairs started from 2003 onwards in Sierra del Rosario and other locations. The objective of the seed and biodiversity fairs is to encourage the exchange and selling of seeds among farmers. These fairs allowed farmers from different regions of the country to participate and to engage in knowledge sharing and seed exchanges. While at the culinary fairs, women have played their fundamental role and showed their knowledge and skills in preparing various traditional foods. The fairs have resulted to recovering and reviving various traditional foods that are associated with certain regions, festivities and celebrations and times of the year. It stimulated creativity and interest by showing the range of culinary uses. The fairs highlight the need to link conservation of crop diversity with food dishes or family meals. Also, found important to share this knowledge with larger population groups.

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

    Type of measure/practice: Technical; Others

    104) Farmer participatory approach in increasing genetic diversity in farmers field with exotic taro plant genetic resources

    The National Agricultural Research Institution (NARI) of Papua New Guinea (PNG), together with international partners, implemented a Participatory Plant Breeding project from 2011-2015 with the aim to increase the diversity of taro, which is the fourth most important crop in PNG. It also aims to address adaptation to climate change, pest and disease outbreaks and new market needs. In a survey conducted in 2013 and other previous documentation by NARI, it was found that the genetic diversity of taro in farmers’ field is very narrow; however, enhancing the diversity of this crop, which is mostly vegetatively propagated, requires specific technical know-how. The project thus brought together scientist working directly with local farmers in 18 village communities in three districts; around 300 farmers participated. The project included activities such as participatory evaluation of genetic resources, including from international collections, selection of breeding parents, crossing and seed harvesting and evaluation of progenies. Promising new progenies are the key outcome and were distributed to the village communities for on-farm evaluation, including for local adaptation and eating quality, based on farmers’ own criteria. Women played a key role in the process since they do most of the farming activities, such as planting, weeding and harvesting.

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

    Type of measure/practice: Technical

    105) Exemptions or flexibilities in seed registration for farmers’ varieties

    In Brazil, Peru and Nepal, responsible ministries and authorities, along with partnering NGOs and/or research organizations, developed policies, laws and regulations to facilitate registration of farmer varieties. Objectives of these initiatives were to provide options for the registration of farmer varieties that are easy, low cost and appropriate to the character of these varieties; to document farmers’ varieties and knowledge; to protect them from biopiracy; and to facilitate their dissemination at larger scale. In Brazil, a seed law offering voluntary registration of farmer varieties under specific criteria was passed in 2003. In Peru, a law listing native crops for protection was passed in 2005; furthermore, a national register was established. In Nepal, the Agricultural Biodiversity Policy of 2007 (amended in 2014) identified participatory plant breeding (PPB) as a strategy to enhance local varieties; criteria for the registration of such varieties in the national registration system were adapted in 2005. In Brazil, efforts to promote farmer varieties, combined with a wider agroecology approach, family farmer and food security programmes, resulted in enhanced food security nationally by 2013. In Nepal, PPB varieties have been successfully registered and sold; in Peru, farmer varieties have been maintained and used.

    Category: 11.Other measures / practices

    Type of measure/practice: Others