FAO says crop wild relatives must be collected

Plant genetic material stored in gene banks should be screened with future requirements in mind. Additional plant genetic resources — including those from wild relatives of food crops — must be collected and studied because of the risk that they may disappear.

Climate-adapted crops — for example varieties of major cereals that are resistant to heat, drought, submergence and salty water — can be bred. FAO stressed however that this should be done in ways that respect breeders’ and farmers’ rights, in accordance with the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources.

That’s from FAO’s a submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change about a week ago. Can’t think how I missed it. Of course, there is some collecting work being planned now on crop wild relatives

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