Plant genetic resources

Plant genetics

• Scientists on a Hunt for Traits to Breed Climate-Proof Crops
  A global search has begun for food crops with traits that are able to withstand changes to the climate.
• Diversity protectionism: Use of Genebanks
  Dr. Fowler is Professor and Director of the Research Centre for International Environment and Development Studies, Agricultural University of Norway. These are remarks edited from his presentation in the Basel Switzerland symposium on 'Food Security and Biodiversity for Sharing the Benefit of Plant Centre Resources', co-sponsored by the Syngenta Foundation.
  Dr. Fowler's full presentation can be read on www.benefitsharing.org
• DNA banks - providing novel options for genebanks [PDF 881 KB]. As part of its Topical Reviews in Agricultural Biodiversity series, the International Plant genetic resources Institute (IPGRI) has recently published "DNA banks - providing novel options for genebanks?", edited by M.C. de Vicente. The 10 chapters of this 84-page publication cover a wide range of topics related to DNA banks such as the current global status of Plant genetic resources DNA banking activities;
  
  • the importance of DNA storage for the conservation of species;
  • best practices and experiences with preservation of DNA samples;
  • the role of bioinformatics;
  • the usefulness of DNA banks as a primary resource for conservation research;
  • DNA banking of animal genetic resources;
  • and the opportunities, limitations and needs for DNA banking from the perspective of developing countries.
  
  Contact ipgri-publications@cgiar.org for more information.
• The Global Crop Diversity Trust. A Foundation for food security [PDF 71.8KB]
• Should Africa reject science it does not own?
  Scientists from across Africa and beyond respond to the recent SciDev.Net opinion article by Kazhila Chinsembu, who urged African nations to regain control over their biological resources and indigenous knowledge.
• The role of non-GM biotechnology in developing world agriculture
• Agriculture in the developing world: Connecting innovations in plant research to downstream applications.
• "Agricultural Biotechnology and the Poor" [PDF132KB]
  Review from a 1999 conference of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research  (CGIAR). It includes an overview of marker assisted breeding.
• Detailed analysis of yield of USA maize. [PDF] United Nations
• Neglected crops 'crucial' to beating hunger
• Plant genetic resources for Food and Agriculture: Assessing Global Availability [PDF 301KB]
• Mozambique subsistence agriculture faces long-term decline from HIV/AIDS epidemic - Also of interest on the site: FAO projects
• Access and benefit sharing: Analysis of some case studies [PDF 142KB]
• Biodiversity for food security
• Growing Grass Roots
• International workshop on market incentives for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use [PDF]
• Seeds of life: Women and agricultural biodiversity in Africa [PDF]
• The international treaty for Plant genetic resources for food and agriculture(the "Treaty") [PDF]
• International treaty on Plant genetic resources for food and agriculture -International seedtreaty (UKabc)  [PDF59KB]
• United Nations division for sustainable development