Transcript A global overview on assessing and monitoring genetic erosion of

European Crop Wild Relative Diversity Assessment and Conservation Forum
Workshop 5: Genetic erosion and pollution assessment
Terceira Isla, Azores, 8 – 11 September 2004
A global overview on assessing and monitoring genetic
erosion of crop wild relatives and local varieties using WIEWS
and other elements of the FAO Global System on PGR
S. Diulgheroff, FAO
Contents
• Introduction
• The Global Plan of Action
– Monitoring GPA implementation
– New Approach for GPA monitoring
• The World Information and Early warning
System
• The State of the World’s PGRFA
• Conclusions and recomendations
Genetic Erosion Definition
• “Loss of genetic diversity, in a particular
location and over a particular period of
time, including the loss of a unique allele,
the loss of particular combinations of
genes such as those manifested in
landraces or varieties. It is thus a function
of change of genetic diversity over time.”1
1 FAO and IPGRI 2002
On going GE monitoring processes
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
IUCN’s Species Survival Commission,
CBD,
UNEP/WCMC,
OECD,
PGR Forum (EU),
IPGRI and FAO,
…
Global System on Plant Genetic
Resources
Under the Commission on Genetic
Resources for Food and Agriculture CGRFA
Objectives: to ensure the safe conservation,
and promote the availability and
sustainable use of plant genetic resources
by providing a flexible framework for
sharing the benefits and burdens
Global System on Plant Genetic
Resources
Inter alia, three key elements are:
•
•
•
the Global Plan of Action for the
Conservation and Sustainable Utilization
of PGRFA (GPA);
the World Information and Early Warning
System (WIEWS) on PGRFA; and
the Report on the State of the World's
PGRFA (SOW)
The Global Plan of Action
In Situ Conservation and Development
1 Surveying and Inventorying PGRFA
2 Supporting On-Farm Management and Improvement of PGRFA
3 Assisting Farmers in Disaster Situations to Restore Agricultural Systems
4 Promoting In Situ Conservation of Wild Crop Relatives and Wild Plants for Food Production
Ex Situ Conservation
5 Sustaining Existing Ex Situ Collections
6 Regenerating Threatened Ex Situ Accessions
7 Supporting Planned and Targeted Collecting of PGRFA
8 Expanding Ex Situ Conservation Activities
Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources
9 Expanding the Characterization, Evaluation and Number of Core Collections to Facilitate Use
10 Increasing Genetic Enhancement and Base-Broadening Efforts
11 Promoting Sustainable Agriculture through Diversification of Crop Production and Broader Diversity in Crops
12 Promoting Development and Commercialization of Under-Utilized Crops and Species
13 Supporting Seed Production and Distribution
14 Developing New Markets for Local Varieties and 'Diversity-Rich' Products
Institutions and Capacity Building
15 Building Strong National Programmes
16 Promoting Networks for PGRFA
17 Constructing Comprehensive Information Systems for PGRFA
18 Developing Monitoring and Early Warning Systems for Loss of PGRFA
19 Expanding and Improving Education and Training
20 Promoting Public Awareness of the Value of PGRFA Conservation and Use
The Global Plan of Action
Priority Activity Are 18
Developing Monitoring and Early Warning Systems
for Loss of PGRFA
It calls for governments to “periodically review and report on the
situation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture...
[and to] ... designate / re-confirm a focal point to convey this
information to FAO, the Conference of the Parties to the
Convention on Biological Diversity, and other appropriate
bodies”. (GPA 1996)
Monitoring GPA Implementation
In Situ Conservation and Development
1 Surveying and Inventorying PGRFA
2 Supporting On-Farm Management and Improvement of PGRFA
3 Assisting Farmers in Disaster Situations to Restore Agricultural Systems
4 Promoting In Situ Conservation of Wild Crop Relatives and Wild Plants for Food Production
Ex Situ Conservation
5 Sustaining Existing Ex Situ Collections
6 Regenerating Threatened Ex Situ Accessions
7 Supporting Planned and Targeted Collecting of PGRFA
8 Expanding Ex Situ Conservation Activities
Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources
9 Expanding the Characterization, Evaluation and Number of Core Collections to Facilitate Use
10 Increasing Genetic Enhancement and Base-Broadening Efforts
11 Promoting Sustainable Agric through Crop Production Diversification + Broader Diversity in Crops
12 Promoting Development and Commercialization of Under-Utilized Crops and Species
13 Supporting Seed Production and Distribution
14 Developing New Markets for Local Varieties and 'Diversity-Rich' Products
Institutions and Capacity Building
15 Building Strong National Programmes
16 Promoting Networks for PGRFA
17 Constructing Comprehensive Information Systems for PGRFA
18 Developing Monitoring and Early Warning Systems for Loss of PGRFA
19 Expanding and Improving Education and Training
20 Promoting Public Awareness of the Value of PGRFAConservation and Use
Monitoring GPA Implementation
1996-2004
• 1998 Global Survey (narrative format) ~110 countries replied 
• 2000 Natl. Focal Point nomin./confirmation 151 
• 2000 Global Survey (tabular, y/n, m-choice answers fmat) ~110 
• 2004 Global Survey (tabular, y/n, m-choice answers fmat) ~80 
Monitoring GPA Implementation
In Situ Conservation and Development
1 Surveying and Inventorying PGRFA
2 Supporting On-Farm Management and Improvement of PGRFA
3 Assisting Farmers in Disaster Situations to Restore Agricultural Systems
4 Promoting In Situ Conservation of Wild Crop Relatives and Wild Plants for Food Production
Ex Situ Conservation
5 Sustaining Existing Ex Situ Collections
6 Regenerating Threatened Ex Situ Accessions
7 Supporting Planned and Targeted Collecting of PGRFA
8 Expanding Ex Situ Conservation Activities
Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources
9 Expanding the Characterization, Evaluation and Number of Core Collections to Facilitate Use
10 Increasing Genetic Enhancement and Base-Broadening Efforts
11 Promoting Sustainable Agric through Crop Production Diversification + Broader Diversity in Crops
12 Promoting Development and Commercialization of Under-Utilized Crops and Species
13 Supporting Seed Production and Distribution
14 Developing New Markets for Local Varieties and 'Diversity-Rich' Products
Institutions and Capacity Building
15 Building Strong National Programmes
16 Promoting Networks for PGRFA
17 Constructing Comprehensive Information Systems for PGRFA
18 Developing Monitoring and Early Warning Systems for Loss of PGRFA
19 Expanding and Improving Education and Training
20 Promoting Public Awareness of the Value of PGRFAConservation and Use
Area 1 – Surveying and inventorying PGRFA
• Number of inventorying activities reported
by countries has steadily increased since
1998
• >1,400 surveys and inventories were
carried out since 2001, of which 1,079
have taken place in India alone
• 3,000 species, ecotypes or populations
under threat were identified since 2001,
half of them in Europe
Area 2 – Supporting on-farm management and
improvement of PGRFA
• Slight increase throughout the years in the
number of projects
• >80% of the countries reported
participatory crop improvement as the
main research activity
• In Africa, 93% of countries reported that
projects in this area included, in addition,
on-farm seed production, marketing and
distribution activities
Area 2 – Supporting on-farm management and
improvement of PGRFA
• Research studies of on-farm management
of underutilized crops were prioritized by
many countries in Europe and in Asia and
the Pacific
• On-farm conservation of sorghum and
cowpea in Malawi
• Utilization and development of an old rye
variety in Austria
Area 2 – Supporting on-farm management and
improvement of PGRFA
• participative management of genetic
resources of date palms in the Maghreb
oases in Morocco,
• germplasm management of African leafy
vegetables in Senegal and
• in situ conservation and breeding of local
varieties to improve the quality of maize
bread “broa de milho” in Portugal
Area 3 – Assisting farmers in disaster situations to
restore agricultural systems
• In 2000, 32% of the countries with national
plans in operation for assisting farmers in
recovering/restoring germplasm following
disaster situations
• In 2004, 46%
• most improvements took place in Asia and
Pacific, Latin America and Europe
Area 4 – Promoting in situ conservation of CWR and WPFP
Table 1. Priority level given to Activity Area 4 Promoting in situ
conservation of CWR and WPFP (1 - high priority; 2 - medium
priority; 3 - low priority)
Region
1998*
2000
2003
Africa
2.3
2.3
1.8
Asia and Pacific
2.3
2.1
1.8
Near East
1.3
1.0
1.6
Europe
2.3
1.9
2.0
Latin America
2.2
1.8
1.8
North America
-
2
3
2.2
2.0
1.9
World
Area 4 – Promoting in situ conservation of CWR and WPFP
Table 2. Status of plans and implementation activities for conservation
and use of CWR+WPFP (% of countries).
1998
2000
2003
Region
No
Plan
Plan +
Some
Activities
Plan +
Advanced
Activities
No
Plan
Plan +
Some
Activities
Plan +
Advanced
Activities
No
Plan
Plan +
Some
Activities
Plan +
Advanced
Activities
Africa
75
25
0
55
40
5
33
53
13
Asia+Pacific
50
44
6
31
63
6
0
91
9
Near East
43
57
0
13
88
0
14
71
14
Europe
54
38
8
25
68
7
25
58
17
Lat. Amer.
67
33
0
50
50
0
50
40
10
North Amer.
100
0
0
100
0
0
100
0
0
World
59
37
4
37
59
5
27
60
13
Area 4 – Promoting in situ conservation of CWR and WPFP
Table 3. Percentage of countries, grouped by regions, having identified
CWR+WPFP for in situ conservation since previous survey.
Region
Africa
2000
44
2003
53
Asia+Pacific
Near East
Europe
55
75
53
71
83
75
Lat. Amer.
North Amer.
50
0
46
0
World
52
61
Area 4 – Promoting in situ conservation of CWR and WPFP
Table 4. Percentage of countries, grouped by regions, having made
arrangements to place threatened diversity of CWR into ex situ
collections.
Region
Africa
Asia + Pacific
2000*
63
65
2003
53
71
Near East
Europe
Latin America
North America
88
83
35
100
57
79
50
100
World
67
65
Area 6 Regenerating threatened ex situ collections
Multiyear plans for regeneration in place
• in almost all reporting countries in Asia
and the Pacific, Europe and the Near East
• in 50 percent of the Latin American
countries
• in 60 percent of the African countries
Area 6 Regenerating threatened ex situ collections
• regeneration of accessions continues to
be an urgent need for 70% of the reporting
countries
• a significant decrease in their need for
regeneration is reported in only 40% of
European countries
Area 11 – Promoting sustainable agriculture through
diversification of crop production and broader diversity of crops
• few studies undertaken to assess genetic
diversity and vulnerability of cultivated
varieties
• the majority of countries are taking various
measures to increase diversity by
encouraging diversification of crop
production
Area 14 – Developing markets for local varieties
and “diversity-rich” products
Figure 1. Changes in the range of local crop varieties available in the markets
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
Africa
Asia & the
Pacific
Near East
Europe
2000-2003
1998-2000
2000-2003
1998-2000
2000-2003
1998-2000
2000-2003
1998-2000
2000-2003
1998-2000
2000-2003
0%
1998-2000
10%
Latin America & North
Caribbean
America
The range shrunk: a reduced number of local crop varieties are currently available in the market compared with what was available in 2000
The range remained basically the same: no major variations in the range of local crop varieties available in the market occurred since 2000
The range broadened: a larger number of local crop varieties are currently available in the market compared with what was available in 2000
Area 18 – Developing monitoring and early warning systems for loss of PGRFA
Table 5. Monitoring threats of genetic erosion in situ and ex situ (% of countries).
In situ
Africa
Asia + Pacific
Near East
Europe
Latin America
World
Ex situ
1998
2000
2003
1998
2000
2003
Yes*
11
14
5
11
18
12
Partial
44
41
47
67
64
47
No
44
46
47
22
18
41
Yes*
27
20
9
40
44
18
Partial
20
33
64
25
28
73
No
53
47
27
35
28
9
Yes*
0
0
17
17
17
17
Partial
50
50
50
33
33
50
No
50
50
33
50
50
33
Yes*
17
15
26
41
43
70
Partial
46
52
52
44
39
26
No
38
33
22
15
18
4
Yes*
0
0
20
8
7
18
Partial
62
72
40
50
40
46
No
39
29
40
42
53
36
Yes*
13
12
17
28
30
35
Partial
44
49
50
44
42
44
No
43
39
33
27
28
22
*
Yes, threats are
monitored, and action
can be taken as needed
Partial monitoring of
threats, partial preventive
action is possible
No mechanism for
monitoring; no
mechanism in place for
taking action to prevent
genetic erosion
Monitoring GPA Implementation
1996-2004
Limits of the applied methodology:
• Lack of detailed information limited the depth of analysis
• Need for more quantitative info
• Need to widen the sources of information including
stakeholders
Missing information in the cases presented include:
• the number and kind of threatened CWR, WPFP and local
varieties inventoried;
• which CWR species and areas were identified for in situ
conservation;
• the number and kind of taxa and accessions conserved ex
situ including threatened CWR;
• which accessions urgently need regeneration;
• the number and kind of local varieties in use; etc.
New GPA Monitoring Approach
Two guiding principles:
• Ensure National Programmes benefit directly
from it
• Ensure widest possible participation of
National Stakeholders
New GPA Monitoring Approach
Main objectives were to:
• Promote understanding of PGRFA status and
dynamics
• Allow meaningful analysis of gaps + priorities
• Improve decision-making on and planning of
available resources
• Increase visibility of on-going efforts
• Improve countries capacity to manage PGRFA
info + to meet intl. reporting commitments
New GPA Monitoring Approach
A country-driven, participatory and capacity building
process, culminating with the establishment of
national information-sharing mechanisms on the
implementation of the Global Plan of Action, which
will constitute the skeleton of a global monitoring
system under the Commission
New GPA Monitoring Approach
The four main components developed by FAO and IPGRI and with inputs
from ITWG, National Programmes on PGRFA and an expert group include:
• a list of indicators for monitoring the implementation at country level of all
priority activity areas of the Global Plan of Action;
• a reporting format, which is a structured questionnaire based on these
indicators;
• a computer application, which has been developed to facilitate and
simplify recording, processing, analysis and sharing of the information
addressed by the indicators and the questionnaire; and
• guidelines for initiating and coordinating this process, including guidelines
for the involvement of stakeholders and for establishing a national
information-sharing mechanism.
New GPA Monitoring Approach
New Monitoring approach tested and implemented in:
• Ecuador (March 2004),
• Cuba (February 2004),
• Czech Republic (March 2004),
• Fiji (June 2004),
• Ghana (March 2004),
• Kenya (March 2004) and
• Papua New Guinea (June 2004)
and evaluated in Germany and Canada.
New GPA Monitoring Approach
A meeting to examine the lessons learned during the
testing phase and, based on these experiences, to
refine the indicators and reporting format was held at
FAO Headquarters in Rome on 5-7 May, 2004.
Country reports, describing the process carried out to
establish the National Information-Sharing
Mechanism on the GPA and including an analysis of
the information gathered, are made available under
WIEWS and the country web sites.
New GPA Monitoring Approach
Activities for the implementation of the new
monitoring approach have already started in:
• Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri
Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam;
• Mali and Uzbekistan; and
• Bolivia.
World Information and Early Warning System on PGR
It was established by FAO as a world-wide
dynamic mechanism to facilitate the exchange
of information that governments provide on
plant genetic resources collections and related
technologies.
World Information and Early Warning System on PGR
It serves as an important tool for the periodic
updating of the
Report on the State of the World’s Plant
Genetic Resources
and as the platform of the
Global Monitoring Mechanism on the
implementation of the Global Plan of Action
World Information and Early Warning System on PGR
The Early Warning System on PGRFA, whose
original specification was to warn “on any
hazards that threaten the efficient
maintenance and operation of a centre
[genebank], with a view to prompt international
action to safeguard the material maintained”,
is now being developed in order to address
not only PGRFA ex situ collections but also in
situ CWR and local varieties
[1]
[1] International Undertaking on PGR Art. 7.1 (f)
Report on the State of the World's
PGRFA
First Report – 1998
Second Report – 2006
Needs, emergencies and priorities identified in
second report will provide the basis for the
operation and periodic updating of the Global
Plan of Action
Report on the State of the World's
PGRFA
In Article 17.3 of International Treaty on PGR a
call for cooperation with the Commission in its
periodic reassessment of the state of the
world’s PGRFA is made to all Contracting
Parties
Report on the State of the World's
PGRFA
Chapter 1 of the first report of State of the
World’s PGRFA discusses the State of
Diversity including Genetic Vulnerability and
Erosion.
Narratives examples of occurrences of genetic
erosion particularly related to loss of local
varieties, based on reports submitted by
countries
Report on the State of the World's
PGRFA
Second Report will show trends where feasible.
+
A number of thematic studies, among these,
one on “Indicators of genetic diversity, genetic
erosion and genetic vulnerability”
to present the “state of the art” of indicators development and use for genetic
diversity, erosion and vulnerability, at various scales, including an
evaluation of the feasibility of assessing genetic diversity/erosion at
national level, also through modern molecular techniques
Report on the State of the World's
PGRFA
GPA Monitoring (new approach) and
preparation of Second Report will be fully
integrated.
Guidelines are being drafted and will be
presented to the CGRFA-10 and discussed in
regional meetings.
Conclusions and Recommendations
• Surveys carried out on the implementation of the
Global Plan of Action have shown that some
progress is being achieved in terms of management
of agro-biodiversity by countries throughout the
world.
• National Programs awareness of the importance of
and capacity for monitoring genetic erosion has
slightly but constantly improved, although there are
huge differences in this regard among regions.
Conclusions and Recommendations
• It is scientifically and technically very difficult to measure
genetic diversity and its loss directly. The most definitive
measurement would take place at the DNA level.
• However, ex situ PGR collections commonly contain hundreds
of accessions representing different genotypes, and they are
often only a fraction of the genetic diversity presented by a
given crop.
• Although it’s possible to study the genetic diversity of one or
two genes very intensively across many genotypes, or to
determine the entire genetic composition of one or two
genotypes, through current technologies it is not possible to
measure the genetic diversity of the entire genome of a very
large number of genotypes.
Conclusions and Recommendations
• Genetic diversity and its loss therefore must be measured by
proxy.
• It’s therefore crucial to establish proxy measures which are
relevant and as scientifically accurate as possible.
• Proxy indicators of genetic erosion which take advantage of
existing available information including indigenous knowledge
for local varieties as well as spatial and temporal
comparisons for crop wild relatives should be agreed upon
and applied on a large scale.
Conclusions and Recommendations
• As monitoring genetic erosion of CWR and local varieties is
scientifically, technically and logistically difficult and requires
substantial efforts and long term commitment particularly at
national level, it would important to link such efforts to some
short term return benefit that ensure sustainability to such
considerable, if systematically applied, investment.
• An ideal way would be to take advantage of the information
generation and gathering processes for monitoring genetic
erosion to contribute to information requirements of existing
breeding programs.
• Existing international efforts need to be reinforced in order to
provide methodologies which can be applied by National
Programs and enable good estimations of the status and
dynamics of diversity.
Conclusions and Recommendations
• The ongoing activities for the preparation of the second report
of the State of the World’s PGRFA as well as agreed targets
under the CBD offer an excellent opportunity of collaboration
among international organizations and National PGRFA
Programs in order to set up realistic and sustainable
mechanisms for monitoring genetic erosion.