Publication Date
1993
Description
The conservation of forage plant genetic resources has attracted growing public and scientific interest in recent times. The number of genebanks has risen significantly with a concomitant increase in the total number of accessions. Competition for funds and some duplication of effort has led to an increasing need for co-operation between the curators if the full potential of the germplasm is to be realised. International organisations such as PAO, the mandated CGIAR Centres and IBPGR, have played a major role in establishing sustainable forage genetic resource programmes; and despite the restrictions of limited funding, have made some significant achievements in the last two decades. This is illustrated by the success of a Mediterranean forage genetic resources network and the European Forage Working Group. The case is argued that the momentum already generated will be maintained by the establishment of a series of forage networks. These can be formulated on a generic or geographical basis and successful examples can be found in some crop networks. Experience has shown that such networks have led to the establishment of common databases, stimulated publication and improved the identification of research priorities. The future international framework for forage genetic resources will continue to be led, coordinated and to some extent funded by the major organisations, National programmes will be the focus of most funding bodies but in order to maximise their efforts such programmes will need to operate on a transnational basis. It is suggested that the global sharing of information pertaining to the collection, conservation, documentation, evaluation and use of forage germplasms be done through a series of networks. The possible participants are listed and a strategy proposed.
Citation
Reid, R, "Establishing and Sharing Collections of Valuable global Resource" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 28.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session9/28
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Establishing and Sharing Collections of Valuable global Resource
The conservation of forage plant genetic resources has attracted growing public and scientific interest in recent times. The number of genebanks has risen significantly with a concomitant increase in the total number of accessions. Competition for funds and some duplication of effort has led to an increasing need for co-operation between the curators if the full potential of the germplasm is to be realised. International organisations such as PAO, the mandated CGIAR Centres and IBPGR, have played a major role in establishing sustainable forage genetic resource programmes; and despite the restrictions of limited funding, have made some significant achievements in the last two decades. This is illustrated by the success of a Mediterranean forage genetic resources network and the European Forage Working Group. The case is argued that the momentum already generated will be maintained by the establishment of a series of forage networks. These can be formulated on a generic or geographical basis and successful examples can be found in some crop networks. Experience has shown that such networks have led to the establishment of common databases, stimulated publication and improved the identification of research priorities. The future international framework for forage genetic resources will continue to be led, coordinated and to some extent funded by the major organisations, National programmes will be the focus of most funding bodies but in order to maximise their efforts such programmes will need to operate on a transnational basis. It is suggested that the global sharing of information pertaining to the collection, conservation, documentation, evaluation and use of forage germplasms be done through a series of networks. The possible participants are listed and a strategy proposed.
