Collaboration

No country possesses sufficient diversity to meet all its present and future needs. Exchange of germplasm and geneflow between countries are essential for continued adaptation and productivity of crop and forestry species. Exchange of information and technologies are also necessary for countries to undertake effective programmes of conservation and use of PGR. Both the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Global Plan of Action (Priority Activities 15 - 20) place high priority on such exchange.

National Programmes can utilize a number of tools and mechanisms to make collaboration more effective. These include:

• Following safe exchange guidelines and national quarantine systems when undertaking germplasm exchange.
• Material Transfer Agreements or other agreements that allow for exchange on Mutually Agreed Terms, consistent with the Convention on Biological Diversity
• Documentation systems, which include characterization and evaluation data to of germplasm accessions can facilitate exchange of useful material, and can help establish help establish national sovereignty over the material which is well described.
• Existing National Legislation regarding the exchange of germplasm must be followed.
• Undertaking collaborative research and sharing research results to better determine the performance and potential of the exchanged germplasm.
• Exchange of methodologies that can enhance use and improve the conservation of germplasm. Such methods can range from participatory breeding to molecular genetics.

Crop Networks and Forestry networks, and Regional networks on PGR can be effective tools for facilitating exchange and benefit sharing, undertaking collaborative research, exchanging information, technologies and germplasm, and help strengthen national programmes. Examples of genetic resources networks in the region are COGENT (the International Coconut Genetic Resources Network), or LGRN the Lathyrus Genetic Resources Network. Several CGIAR Centres support networks on their mandate crops such as CLAN - the ICRISAT- based crops and legumes Asia Network. Regional Networks on PGR include the EA-PGR (East Asia Network on Plant Genetic Resources), the SANPGR (the South Asian Network on Plant Genetic resources) and RECSEA-PGR (Regional Cooperation in Southeast Asia on Plant Genetic Resources). There is now strong interest among the Pacific Island countries to establish a Pacific PGR Network

More information:

Networks

International Consortium on Agricultural Biotechnology Research (ICABR)

FAO. 1998. State of regional and international collaboration. Pp. 233-274 in The State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, Itlay.

Riley, K.W. and A. Bari, A. 1997. Plant genetic resources in Asia/Pacific: a basis for APAARI-IPGRI collaboration. Paper presented at the APAARI Expert Consultation on Management and Strengthening of Research Networks in Asia-Pacific Region, 19-21 October 1997. AREEO, Tehran, Iran.

Riley, K.W., Zhou Ming-De and V. Ramanatha Rao. 1996. Networks for the effective management and use of plant genetic resources in Asia, Pacific and Oceania. Coordination and Evaluation of Network for PGR at the National, Regional and International Level 23 September 1996. Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Arora, R.K. P.N. Mathur, K.W. Riley, and Y. Adham, editors. 1996. Lathyrus Genetic Resources in Asia, Proceedings of a Regional Workshop, Raipur, India, 27-29 December 1995. IPGRI, Office for South Asia, New Delhi, India. 168 p.

Arora, R.K. and K.W. Riley, editors. 1993. Sesame Biodiversity in Asia, Conservation, Evaluation and Improvement. Proceedings of IBPGR-ICAR/NBPGR Asian Regional Workshop on Sesame Evaluation and Improvement, Nagpur and Akola, India 28-30 September 1993. IPGRI, Office for South Asia, New Delhi, India. 209 p.

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