Plant genetic resources conservation and use in light of recent policy developments

Plant genetic resources constitute our invaluable assets to meet the growing needs to increase crop production and productivity. Plant genetic resources constitute a unique global heritage and their conservation and utilization is of immediate concern. Over six million accessions of crop germplasm are currently being conserved worldwide in gene banks. Despite its overall advantage and promotion by the international community, in-situ conservation is still inadequate. Various international conventions have addressed the topic of genetic erosion and declining use of agrobiodiversity in modern agriculture. Concern about the future vulnerability of agricultural production, food security and environmental stability has moved the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources to the top of the international development agenda. Implications and impact of global conventions/ treaties/ agreements such as Convention on Biological Diversity, Trade related intellectual property rights and Sanitary and phytosanitary agreements under WTO, International plant protection convention, Global plan of action, International treaty on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture Convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora, Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (ICGTK) was set up in 2001, International union for protection of plant varieties, Global crop diversity trust and Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety on plant genetic resource activities are discussed. The changing national scenario in light of the above global developments particularly the provisions under Biological diversity Act and Protection of plant varieties and farmers’ rights act are discussed. The status of PGR conservation, documentation and utilization at global and national level is briefly discussed. Measures to promote PGR utilization including core development, prebreeding, gene prospecting, allele mining, public private partnerships and safe transboundary movement are discussed. Major issues and future thrust areas in the field of plant genetic resources are listed.