Diverse Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA) are an important aspect of biodiversity and greater investment in both in-situ and ex-situ conservation of genetic material will be important. PGRFA are essential for agriculture to adapt to environmental stresses, climate change, and changing markets. In 2022, 5.7 million accessions were reportedly conserved in 831 gene banks by 114 countries including through the International Treaty Benefit Sharing Fund. Continuing to meet funding commitments is critical. Cooperation between informal farmer seed systems and gene banks to maintain genetic material could be scaled up.
Could not have put it better myself. And the fact that it comes from a World Bank report (Agriculture Rooted in Biodiversity) advocating for more sustainable agriculture makes it all the sweeter. Check out p. 71 for the agrobiodiversity section. Then on p. 114 you’ll find a recommendation to: “Support in-situ and conservation of plant and animal genetic material for food and agriculture (PGRFA).” Which is a bit weirdly phrased but makes ex situ conservation a bit more explicit when you look at its components:
- Develop partnerships between gene banks and community seed funds to exploit the potential of farmer seed systems to maintain genetic material in-situ and share with gene banks (see case studies in Annex 15).
- Support local seed companies that create markets for locally adapted varieties saved by farmer seed systems (e.g., matching grants to facilitate access to finance for improved seeds facilities.
- Conduct an inventory of breeds and assess extinction risks.