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

    156) 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

    157) Plant Breeders’ Rights legislation in the EU implementing the Treaty and the UPOV 1991 Convention in a mutually supportive manner

    EU Regulation 2100/94 of 1994 sets out the EU plant variety protection system following the principles of the UPOV 1991 Convention. The objective is to provide a balanced IP framework for protecting plant varieties, which stimulates the creation of new varieties of plants for the benefit of farmers and the society at large. The core components of the system, which ensure the mutually supportive implementation of the Treaty and the UPOV Convention, are the scope of the right (article 13 of the EU Regulation) and the exceptions to the right (articles 14 and 15 of the EU Regulation). These exceptions ensure that farmers, especially smallholder farmers, can continue their practices of seed saving. One key outcome of the system is the number of varieties available for farmers on the EU market, adding up to around 40,000 varieties of agricultural and vegetable species, of which around 20,000 are protected; around 3,500 new varieties are released every year. All these varieties contribute to farmers’ choices; where the variety is not or no longer protected, farmers are free to save, use, exchange and sell farm-saved seed of those varieties subject to national law.

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

    Type of measure/practice: Legal

    158) Food Forever Initiative

    In 2017, the Global Crop Diversity Trust (Crop Trust) launched the ‘Food Forever Initiative’ in cooperation with several ‘champions’ from public and private sector. The aim of the initiative is to rally the support necessary from all stakeholders, ranging from politicians, farmers, chefs, businesses, to individuals, to drive positive change in the way we conserve, grow, sell and consume crop and livestock diversity. Specific attention is given to the role of smallholder farmers and how their access to quality seeds and to markets can be improved. ‘Food Forever Champions’ have agreed to join as advocates for this important cause. They are experts and leaders from all walks of life who are driven to speak out about the importance of food diversity. Partners of the initiative contribute, with their work, to implementing SDG Target 2.5, which specifically addresses the need for maintaining genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants, farmed and domesticated animals and their related wild species, including through the implementation of related international agreements. Together, the Crop Trust and the Government of the Netherlands provide for the initiative’s secretariat functions. Financial support is provided by the Governments of Germany, Norway, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

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

    Type of measure/practice: Technical

    159) Knowledge sharing and exchange of experiences between and among farming communities on the management and utilization of crops

    Between 2001 and 2005, the National Institute of Agrarian Innovation (INIA), together with several governmental and non-governmental organizations, facilitated knowledge sharing and exchange of experiences between and among 472 custodian farmers from 69 communities, comprising 10 administrative regions participating in an in situ conservation project of INIA. The objective was to share experiences and exchange knowledge systems related to the different management practices and important utilization of 11 priority native crops in order to enhance knowledge and prevent its ‘erosion’. The knowledge sharing and exchange of experiences took place at INIA Agricultural Experiment Stations located in 10 administrative regions, selected sites for the in situ conservation project of INIA, also identified as ‘micro-centres of genetic diversity’. These regions are, characterized by a high diversity of native crops and their crop wild relatives, in addition to cultural wealth, including in terms of traditional knowledge and customary management practices relating to PGRFA. As an outcome, INIA compiled an inventory of native crops and registry of traditional knowledge and reported 8,867 usages. The described measure is an effective way to re-valorize traditional knowledge for use by the farmers themselves and for in situ conservation activities, in line with the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the ITPGRFA.

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

    Type of measure/practice: Technical

    160) Securing local seed systems through Farmers’ Seed Clubs

    Empowerment of farmers has been an ongoing undertaking and objective in Mekong Delta since 1996, based on various projects and partnerships. One such initiative, implemented by the Mekong Delta Development Research Institute (MDI), in collaboration with Southeast Asia Regional Initiatives for Community Empowerment (SEARICE), included capacity development in rice breeding and seed production through experiential learning in Farmer Field Schools. As a result, over 300 seed clubs were formed across the Mekong Delta, which produced and distributed 158,000 tons of seeds of 77 rice varieties in 2018, benefitting 24,000 households. They supply at least 35% of the seed in the region and are recognized by farmers and local government authorities, such as Seed Centers, Extension Centers and the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) as important suppliers of good quality seeds. Furthermore, they developed 359 rice varieties, of which four have been registered and certified nationally, while five are in the process of registration. The contributions of seed clubs to improving seed systems and encouraging participation of individuals and communities in local seed production and distribution caused the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) to issue Decision 35/2008/QĐ-BNN, encouraging local authorities to support community-based on-farm seed management.

    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