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

    161) 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

    162) Awards for farmer-breeder who contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA

    Since 2017, the Government of Indonesia, in collaboration with the Faculty of Agriculture, Brawijaya University, Malang, East Java, has created awards with the aim to encourage and acknowledge farmers’ participation in the conservation and use of local germplasm, including breeding activities. Two categories of awards are available: one for farmer-breeder and a second one for local government units where a high number of local varieties has been registered and utilized and/or developed. Farmers and local governments from all provinces of Indonesia qualify for nomination. As a result, farmers’ active participation in collecting, conserving and using germplasm for breeding activities has become more attractive for farmers and local governments alike.

    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; Others

    163) Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)

    The Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)-Global system, originally developed in 1986 and updated and expanded in 2011, is a suite of software programmes for managing plant germplasm-associated information, facilitating plant genebank workflows, and providing a public interface for users to access plant germplasm and information. Users can search for accession information via its public website, fill a shopping cart with their desired plant germplasm, and have it delivered freely and without restrictions for use in plant production, research and breeding. In fact, in 2018 alone, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) distributed over 280,000 samples to fill more than 700 individual orders.

    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

    164) Seed exchange fair - Muyu Raymi (seed festival)

    The seeds of the farmers in the indigenous communities of Cotacachi have been passed on from many generations. The initiative to promote seed fairs was started in 2003, and has been implemented by the Union of Indigenous Peasant Organizations of Cotacachi, Ecuador, the Community Organization of Andean Women of Cotacachi and the National Institute of Agricultural Research. The objectives include to: facilitate access to native seeds through farmer-to-farmer exchange; facilitate the exchange of traditional knowledge on conservation and use of native varieties among farmers; contribute to improving knowledge on the diversity and variability of farm seeds, among others. The initiative has the following key components: exhibition and exchange of native seed diversity; exhibition of the gastronomic food heritage of indigenous communities and assessment of the state of conservation of agrobiodiversity. The seed fair - Muyu Raymi (seed festival) has been held for 18 consecutive years. Other key outcomes include: 80 % of the participants are women in addition to having high participation of farmers from the canton’s rural communities and other areas of the country The seed fair is a mechanism for influence local public policies for the conservation and promotion of agrobiodiversity and traditional knowledge. The fair is also a space to give incentives to farmers in recognition of their important contribution to the conservation of traditional agroecosystems.

    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

    165) Heirloom Rice Project

    The Heirloom Rice Project, which started in 2014, is supported by the Department of Agriculture of the Philippines and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). It aims to enhance the productivity and enrich the legacy of heirloom and traditional rice varieties through empowering communities in rice-based ecosystems in the Philippines. Heirloom rice varieties, handed down for generations and grown by small landholders, have exceptional cooking quality, flavour, aroma, texture, colour, and nutritional value. There is high demand for these varieties, and they command higher prices in both domestic and international markets. However, there are also challenges hindering farmers to seize these opportunities, while some of the varieties are at risk of extinction. The Heirloom Rice Project thus takes a market and product development approach. Core activities include (1) characterizing existing heirloom or traditional varieties alongside modern climate-resilient varieties; (2) capacity development and enterprise building in farming communities; (3) identifying opportunities for value addition and market linkages; (4) documenting and disseminating good management practices through various communication channels; and (5) improving resistance and/or tolerance of selected heirloom varieties to diseases and environmental stresses. Key results include an increase in production of heirloom rice varieties by almost 80% in six years.

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

    Type of measure/practice: Technical; Administrative; Legal; Others