Photo: Ronnie Vernooy

From April 15-May 3, 2013, 27 professionals from 21 countries took part in the international course Contemporary approaches to genetic resources conservation and use organized by the Centre for Development Innovation of Wageningen University and Research Centre. During three weeks, they learned about and debated the merits of in situ and ex situ conservation strategies, conventional and participatory plant breeding approaches, practices of sustainable use and, notably, the relevance and impact of policies on conservation and use of plant genetic resources.

For the first time in the course history, one module consisting of several sessions dealt with the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (the Treaty). The topics covered, included: Genetic resources as a common heritage: from the International Undertaking to the International Treaty (guest speaker: José T. Esquinas-Alcázar); the history of the Treaty, the Funding Strategy, the moving scope of Annex 1 (all three by course co-coordinator: Bert Visser); Farmers’ Rights (guest speaker: Bella Batta Torheim); Conservation and Sustainable Use, and the Multi-lateral System (MLS) of access and benefit sharing (both by course facilitator Ronnie Vernooy). A special seminar was dedicated to the Bioversity International coordinated project Strengthening capacities to implement the International Treaty on PGRFA (presentation by Ronnie Vernooy) to illustrate the activities required for and challenges encountered in Treaty implementation.

Photo: Ronnie Vernooy

Following each of the plenary sessions, participants worked in small groups on practical assignments, using tools such as mindmap (see photo below) and visioning. Tasks included identifying which collections at national level can be included in the MLS, recommending practical suggestions to implement farmers’ rights at national level, and designing action plans for awareness raising about and implementation of the Treaty through a multi-stakeholder approach. Results of the group work were then presented in plenary followed by comments. Group interactions were lively and at times heated. In the discussions it became clear that country contexts vary widely and that this diversity does not always make it easy to come to shared understanding and development of a joint plan or project idea. In a way, as one of the course facilitators observed, the class dynamics reflected the sometimes tough negotiation processes that led to the creation of the Treaty.

Photo: Ronnie Vernooy

Participants evaluated the course including the Treaty sessions on the last day. Overall, they expressed satisfaction about both course content and methodology. They appreciated all the Treaty sessions and made a few suggestions for improvement, such as the use of visuals in all sessions and more time for discussion of some topics.

Next year’s course will take place from April 7-26, 2014. For more information, including about fellowships, please contact: Abishkar Subedi, overall course coordinator, abishkar.subedi@wur.nl, or visit: http:///www.wageningenur.nl/cdi

By Pashupati Chaudhary, LI-BIRD, Nepal

Agrobiodiversity plays a pivotal role in securing food and nutrition and enhancing resilience of agriculture to climate change. As the climate is becoming more erratic and unpredictable than in the past, it has become increasingly difficult to properly manage agrobiodiversity to sustainably produce food. One of the challenges is the lack of scientific knowledge to predict climate dynamics in particular regions. Another challenge is to develop and deploy crop varieties that are adapted to changing climatic conditions. Climate Analogue Tool (CAT), a recently developed tool by partners of the Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) programme is a remarkable breakthrough in tackling this problem. CAT can identify a) future climate conditions of a particular location and sites that currently resemble these conditions (b) locations that currently have or in the future will have similar climate conditions, and c) locations that in the future will have current climate conditions of a particular place. Based on careful analyses done using the Climate Analogue Tool and supported by data from actual conditions in farmers’ fields, scientists can identify possible appropriate plant genetic resources, deploy suitable varieties, and develop new varieties for specific locations of interest.

Recently, the Genetic Resources Policy Initiative 2 project, led by Bioversity International, organized a three-day long training workshop on Climate Analogue Tools in order to enhance skills of Nepal and Bhutan project staff in analyzing, interpreting and presenting climate data. 18 scientists, managers, and development professionals representing government organizations, national research programs, gene banks and non-governmental organizations of both countries participated in the training that was facilitated by Bioversity International scientists. 

Photo: Ronnie Vernooy

The participants were made familiar with GIS concepts, principles, practices and applications and taught to apply ArcGIS, Maxent, DIVA GIS, and Climate Analogue Tool and related techniques for plant genetic resources work. GIS was introduced as a tool to project data, modeling, scenario analysis, gap analysis and analogue site identification. We learned that reliable data are a must for using GIS tools, i.e. properly geo-referenced, free of duplications and readable. Data can be presented either in vector model (shape files) or raster model (grid files) and there are three types of shape files—point, line and polygon—that can be used to analyze spatial and temporal variations of any given feature. Participants learned that point is often used for locations, specific features, landmarks, etc.; line is used for rivers, roads, and other similar objects; and polygon is used to represent closed boundaries and delineated areas (e.g. village, forest, biodiversity hotspot).

Map: LI-BIRD team

Following lectures, we carried out hands-on practice using Maxent, DIVA GIS and Climate Analogue Tool. Results were then presented during a plenary toward the end of the training (see, examples of maps produced). During practice, participants were able to: learn converting data from one format to another and making them readable by different tools; analyze data and interpret results; produce maps from the results obtained; play around with legend and other basic features of a map; and copy, convert and save maps in various formats (e.g. MS Word, PowerPoint, JPEG). We also were able to identify what tool should be used for what purposes and what merits one tool has over the others. In addition, we received a short introduction to using a Global Positioning System (GPS). While participants expressed satisfaction with the training course in terms of content and approach, we faced some challenges while making use of different tools. They include: not all features appear while inserting the legends, coloring legends not properly adjustable, size of legend not adjustable in DIVA GIS, cropping/clipping images not available in DIVA GIS, and using CAT not possible without high-speed internet access. These challenges will be communicated to program designers so that they can make the tools more robust, reliable, and user-friendlly.

Map: LI-BIRD team

A market in Guatemala. Photo credit: J Fanzo/Bioversity

by Gea Galluzzi and Isabel Lapeña

The national kick-off workshop for the GRPI2 project “strengthening national capacities to implement the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture” in Guatemala, took place in Guatemala city, 21-22 March 2013. Participants included the Guatemalan team, national authorities from agriculture, environment, biodiversity, trade and IP and staff from Bioversity International and CCAFS. 

On day one, Isabel Lapeña, from Bioversity International, gave an overview of the Treaty and its Multilateral System of access and benefit-sharing (MLS) and a detailed explanation of its mechanisms and possible first steps towards implementation of the MLS in Guatemala. Preliminary ideas on key elements such as which of the national germplasm collections could be automatically included in the MLS and potential competent authority(ies) were discussed. Helmer Ayala, from CONAP, the national authority for implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), gave a presentation on the relationship between the Treaty and the Nagoya Protocol of the CBD, regarding access and benefit-sharing mechanisms and regulations . Gea Galluzzi, from Bioversity International, presented the GRPI2 project, its structure and the five research themes: national-level multilateral system policy development; policy actors and networks; germplasm flows and interdependence; farmers’ involvement and community seed banks; and technology transfer.

Day two was spent planning the research activities with the national project team and clarifying research questions and expected products and outcomes. David Arango, from the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), also gave training to the team, some university students and staff of conservation NGOs, on the use of the Climate Analogues tool. This is a climate change modelling tool which is being used in the project to identify “analogue” sites that have presently or will have in the future climates that are like those in the project “reference” sites, as a step to identify and source suitable germplasm. Read more about the climate analogues tool in the context of GRPI2.

Overall, the workshop created a heightened awareness of conservation and use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in general and the Treaty and its relationship with the Nagoya Protocol.  The participants showed a keen interest in the research activities planned within the project, setting the basis for a fruitful outcome of the project.

Custodian farmers are recognized for their contributions to the conservation and use of agricultural biodiversity. Photo credit: R Vernooy\Bioversity International.

Ronnie Vernooy recently attended a workshop on Custodian Farmers of Agricultural Biodiversity: Policy support for their roles in use and conservation, in New Delhi, India, 11-12 February 2013. Ronnie gave a presentation on supporting the custodians of biodiversity, highlighting options for policy and legal support in four areas: recognition of conservation efforts; protection of farmer knowledge; taking part in benefit-sharing; and participation in decision making.

For more information, see Bioversity International website.

The multilateral system of access and benefit sharing: case studies on implementation in Kenya, Morocco, Philippines and Peru.

Read more and download the PDF.

The Climate Analogues Tool, developed by CIAT and CCAFS (CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security) identifies areas where current climate corresponds to predicted future climate at a chosen reference site of interest. The use of the tool within Bioversity International’s GRPI2 project should allow partners to identify germplasm from the analogues sites, which could perform well under the future climatic conditions of their reference sites. Germplasm from the identified analogue sites, in or out of the country, can be accessed through the multilateral system created by the International Treaty, by consulting databases such as Genesys. Teams from Rwanda and Uganda took part in a training workshop, from 21-23 November 2012, in Kigali, Rwanda, to learn hands-on about the tool.

Reference sites and crops of interest were identified based on the relative importance of these crops for the economy and for food security. The crops chosen were beans and bananas for Uganda and maize, rice and beans for Rwanda. Rubaya, Rwanda, which is a common reference site for beans was selected for both countries. Additional sites for Rwanda included Bugesera for rice and maize; and Kirehe for maize. For Uganda, additional sites included Nakaseke for bananas and beans; and Kabwohe for beans.

Preliminary results indicate that future climate in 2030 in most of the sites for beans, bananas and maize would be lower precipitation and higher temperatures. This implies that stresses related to temperature and drought will be more common. Analogue sites are spread across Africa, Asia and the Americas (see maps below). Surprisingly, preliminary results for rice in Bugesera indicate that precipitation doesn’t change in both present and forward analysis. However, by the year 2030, a 2.1 degree celsius rise in temperature and resultant shorter periods for rice to grow to maturity may lead to temperature stresses. Analogue sites were found in the Americas, Australia and some parts of Asia. A further search through the Genesys data portal for germplasm samples and their holding institutions revealed that the best suited types of germplasm come from around Australia and are crop wild relatives.

Community seedbank, Kabwohe. Credit: G. Otieno/Bioversity International.

The teams consisted of 8 participants from Uganda, mainly from the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) and 12 from Rwanda, mainly from the Rwandan Agricultural Board (RAB).  They visited the Kabwohe site in Uganda and Rubaya site in Rwanda. Varieties of beans are stored using traditional methods in the community genebank in Kabwohe, which is managed by the farmers (see photo).

Field multiplication of bean varieties, Rubaya. Credit: G. Otieno/Bioversity International.

At Rubaya, seed multiplication of various bean species is being done through farmer-led field trials in the hope that these will be characterized and stored in the community genebank and produce store which is under construction (see photo).

See below analogue maps for bananas, beans, rice and maize, created during the “GRPI2 Climate Analogues Training Workshop”, Kigali, Rwanda, 21-23 November 2012.

Kirehe, Rwanda, using maize growing season of September to December and a forward analysis.

Bugesera Rwanda where rice is the predominant crop grown through irrigation – analysis based on a forward (future ) outlook

Rubaya, Rwanda – beans with one growing season (March – July) and a forward analysis

Kabwohe, Uganda – bananas based on all year round seasons.

The next GRIP programme will be carried out in Sweden in May 2013 with a follow up seminar in a participanting country in November 2013. [Download brochure and application form].  The closing date for applications is 15 January 2013.

Click here to access and download the paper. 

The paper analyzes issues related to the implementation of the multilateral system of access and benefit-sharing in Malaysia. One of the main issues considered in the paper is whether PGRFA collections held by parastatal organizations are ’under the management and control’ of the Malaysian national government ’and in the public domain’ and therefore automatically included in the multilateral system. The paper offers a framework for analysis that can be used in other countries in situations where the ‘under the management and control’ status of PGRFA is not clear.

The paper also analyzes the relationship of Malaysia’s approach to implementing the multilateral system of access and benefit-sharing under the ITPGRFA to other access and benefit sharing rules that are being considered pursuant to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Ultimately the paper suggests means by which the future CBD-ABS draft law can exempt the ongoing operation of the multilateral system from its scope.

For more information, you may visit a blog post from earlier this year about the national consultative workshop that was held in Kuala Lumpur as part of the process of developing this paper.

Crop Genetic Resources as a Global Commons

We are very pleased to announce the publication of Crop Genetic Resources as a Global Commons: Challenges in International Law and Governance.

The book investigates how the collective pooling and management of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture can be supported through access and benefit sharing laws. Since the most important recent development in the field has been the creation of the multilateral system of access and benefit-sharing under the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, many of the chapters in this book focus on that system.

The book analyzes a range of relevant background factors, including the impact of climate change on countries’ interdependence on plant genetic resources, germplasm flows in and out of international genebanks, crops specfic research programs, and countries as a whole. It considers the historical development and mechanics of the multilateral system of access and benefit sharing.  It provides space for leaders in the field to reflect on what has worked well, and where challenges remain in terms of the multilateral system’s performance as a central feature in a global system of collective action to conserve, and sustainably use plant genetic diversity, and equitably share benefits derived from that use. Finally, it identifies options for policy initiatives to further strengthen the support which the multilateral system provides the global crop commons.

Here is what some reviewers have said about the book so far.

“A rigorous, in-depth analysis of successful commons governance on a global scale has long been an under-researched, often overlooked and poorly understood area of study. Yet the critical importance collaborative management of global resources requires urgent attention. In this groundbreaking volume, Halewood, Noriega, and Louafi have assembled an international group of leading scholars and practitioners to systematically guide us through the complex terrain of crop genetic resources and agricultural biodiversity as global commons. The thoroughness of the analysis along with the lessons learned from practical applications will serve as indispensable tools for students of all types of global-commons resources.” – Charlotte Hess, co-editor with Elinor Ostrom of ‘Understanding Knowledge as a Commons’ and Associate Dean for Research, Collections, and Scholarly Communication for Syracuse University Library

“The preservation and enhancement of agrobiodiversity is of huge importance in a world that shall witness more disruptive climate shocks in the future, and in which food-deficit regions shall be increasingly dependent on food-surplus regions. This volume makes a strong case for governing plant genetic resources in ways that promote the evolution and conservation of agrobiodiversity, and to ensure that they are available to be used by all regions to adapt better to a changing environment. Yet, it is more than just another book about the governance of natural resources by the best experts in the field: it is also an indispensable tool to understand the future of agriculture in a world of dwindling resources and biodiversity loss.” – Olivier de Schutter, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food 

“These meticulous studies of the FAO Treaty are of major theoretical and empirical importance to scholars and practitioners seeking a workable, transnational regime to govern all genetic resources for research and benefit sharing under the evolving international legal framework.” – Jerome H. Reichman, Bunyan S. Womble Professor of Law, Duke Law School, USA

Over forty academics and practioners working in the field of agricultural biodiversity have contributed to 19 chapters.

More details about the book are available from Routledge.

This title is the fourth in the ‘Issues in Agricultural Biodiversity’ series co-published by Routledge and Bioversity International.

We have some copies available, for free, for libraries, research and farmers’ organziations in developing countries. Please contact bio-policy[at]cgiar.org to request a copy. Remember to provide a full mailing address.