ITPGR to set up global crop information system

NaijaAgroNet:

The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources (ITPGR) has said it will set up a global crop information system to make it easier for plant breeders to identify and access genetic material for the development of new varieties, NaijaAgroNet reports.

The discourse on the information system will form  part of the agenda at the 6^th Conference of governing body of the ITPGR for Food and Agriculture in Rome from October 5-9.

NaijaAgroNet learnt that as climate change increases, demand for new drought and flood resistant seed varieties is also rising, hence  the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture as the world body responsible for overseeing the exchange of plant genetic resources for agriculture becomes significant.

The meeting of the 136-nation pact will discuss expanding the list of plant species in the Treaty’s global gene pool and a subscription model for users of crop diversity to generate income for farmers conserving ancestral crops in the field. This will be in addition to the Treaty’s current benefit-sharing fund that has directly helped nearly half a million poor farmers.

The ITPGR aims at recognizing the enormous contribution of farmers to the diversity of crops that feed the world; establishing a global system to provide farmers, plant breeders and scientists with access to plant genetic materials; ensuring that recipients share benefits they derive from the use of these genetic materials, NaijaAgroNet recalled.

The Governing Body is the highest organ of the Treaty as established in Article 19. Composed of representatives of all contracting parties, its basic function is to promote the full implementation of the treaty, including the provision of policy guidance on the implementation of the treaty.

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BioFISA records achievement against hunger

An initiative of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), BioFISA after four years of operation can now boost of some achievements in fighting hunger, curing diseases as well as livestock sustainability.

NEPAD revealed to NaijaAgroNet in a press statement that BioFISA over the past four years has made effective progress in the areas of the control of HIV infection, livestock disease and development of plant genetic resources guidelines.

The Director of the NEPAD Southern African Network for Bioscience (SANBio), Prof Luke Mumba attributed the achievements to the use of biosciences at BioFISA's primary strategy and continued support from the governments of the Finland and South Africa.

According to Prof. Mumba, BioFISA has helped small-scale farmers in growing and preserving mushroom, developing fish farming and promoting indigenous knowledge systems and scientific validation of traditional remedies.

“Now that we have started making use of the treasure in Africa, there is an imperative need to now focus on preserving, protecting and responsibly sharing indigenous knowledge within African communities to build synergies,” Prof Mumba added.

Speaking about the achievements of BioFISA, a Senior Coordinator of NEPAD's CEO’s Office, Mr. Abdoul Salam Bello said the programmes has affected over 600 small-scale mushroom growers in Malawi, Namibia and Swaziland, while training more than 100 agriculture extension officers and researchers from Angola, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zambia in mushroom farming.

NaijaAgroNet further gathered that BioFISA which is a Finland and Southern Africa Partnership Programme to Strengthen NEPAD/SANBio currently covers eight research and development projects in 12 Southern African countries in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Seychelles, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

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