Thumbnail Image

The plants that feed the world

Baseline data and metrics to inform strategies for the conservation and use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture

Year of publication 2023

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 146 p.

Author Khoury, C.K.; Sotelo, S.; Amariles, D.; Hawtin, G.;

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Book (stand-alone)

ISBN 978-92-5-137990-5

Synopsis (short abstract) The availability of comprehensive and reliable information is crucial for developing evidence-based policies and strategies for the conservation and use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. Information on food and agricultural crops, on their use, interdependence, demand, supply, and security is increasingly available but scattered through a number of information systems, databases and scientific literature. This study was undertaken by a team of international experts to pool together information from a wide range of sources in a user-friendly manner and to develop a reproducible set of metrics and indicators, complementing existing indicators. The main global database sources consulted include FAOSTAT, the Data Store of the International Treaty, FAO WIEWS, Genesys PGR, GBIF, PlantSearch, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault’s SeedPortal, UPOV’s PLUTO database, and NCBI’s Entrez database. The resulting metrics were organized into five domains – crop use, interdependence, demand, supply, and security. The study includes findings about the importance of the Multilateral System of Access and Benefit-sharing of the International Treaty, the primary global operational mechanism to exchange plant germplasm needed for research and breeding around the world, while pointing at gaps and possibilities to enable its growth. A number of vignettes complete the study with information on contemporary issues on crop conservation and use, to further showcase how the management of plant genetic diversity is evolving at present. It is hoped that this publication will support countries, researchers, breeders and other stakeholders in prioritizing activities, implementing multilateral frameworks and leading policy discussions related to plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

Last updated 05/02/2023

Statutory body / Meeting title International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)

Cite this content as:

Khoury, C.K., Sotelo, S., Amariles, D. & Hawtin, G. 2023. The plants that feed the world – Baseline data and metrics to inform strategies for the conservation and use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. Rome, FAO.

https://doi.org/10.4060/cc6876en

Read on Google Books and buy online

Language English

Also available in:
No results found.

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    International Conference on Domestication and Commercialization of Non-Timber Forest Products in Agroforestry Systems 1996
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    The International Conference on Domestication and Commercialization of Non-Timber Forest Products in Agroforestry Systems, hosted by ICRAF, was held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 19 to 23 February 1996. This was the first world-level meeting to be held exclusively to draw attention to issues dealing with domestication and commercialization of non-timber forest products in agroforestry systems.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (series)
    The Second Report on the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture 2010
    Also available in:

    Plant genetic resources provide a basis for food security, livelihood support and economic development as a major component of biodiversity. The Second Report on the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture demonstrates the central role plant genetic diversity continues to play in shaping agriculture growth in the face of climate change and other environmental challenges. It is based on information gathered from Country Reports, regional syntheses, thematic studie s and scientific literature, documenting the major achievements made in this sector during the past decade and identifying the critical gaps and needs that should urgently be addressed. The Report provides the decision-makers with a technical basis for updating the Global Plan of Action on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. It also aims to attract the attention of the global community to set priorities for the effective management of plant genet ic resources for the future.

    Purchase a print copy.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.