Assisting national programmes in the Americas
The national system that supports research and
management of genetic resources within a country plays a key role in
protecting a country’s genetic diversity and putting it to work for
development. National systems involve many institutions
and individuals whose efforts need to be coordinated and sustained. IPGRI supports the
establishment of these systems by providing information and advice to
countries, and by encouraging strong national systems to share their
expertise with less well-established ones.
IPGRI has promoted and supported the establishment of national plant genetic
resources systems in the Americas since its creation. Of 36 countries in the
region, 22 are involved in plant genetic resources activities but
only a few have formally established national programmes. IPGRI's approach to supporting national
programmes in the Americas takes various forms, such as:
providing scientific, technical,
organizational and policy advice
supplying information and information products
promoting new technologies, strategies and
tools
providing training and/or information on
training opportunities
bringing people and institutions together at
national and subregional levels
assisting in writing project proposals and
obtaining funds
implementing, coordinating and publishing
research
allocating direct financial support to
infrastructure development and activities
Examples of IPGRI's support to national programmes in the Americas
IPGRI publications on how to establish a national plant genetic
resources system
Strengthening
national programmes for plant genetic resources for food and agriculture
Issues
and options for national genetic resources programmes
