FAO's 2^nd State of the World's Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture Report

The Food and Agriculture Organization launched its second report on The State of the World's Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. This Report is a sequel to the first report with the same title published 12 years ago. It covers gene bank collection, effects of climate change and what is being done to protect biodiversity in food and agricultural crops.

The report emphasized a few interesting findings including the loss of 75 percent crop diversity between 1900 and 2000 and predicts that as much as 22 percent of the wild relatives of important crops may disappear by 2055 because of changing climate. There has been an increase in number of gene banks which now total 1,750 worldwide with about 130 holding 10,000 accessions of agricultural crops. The report also highlighted the 2008 opening of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway, which is the ultimate back-up of global crop diversity.

The Report called for a broader and better use of genetic resources and biodiversity in food crops that stimulate conservation. New varieties should also be in the hands of farmers by devising adequate systems with public and private sector partnerships.

Read more on this story at http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/46803/icode/