"Seed" for national development: plant genetic resources conservation and use

Plant genetic resources collections of a particular country is both treasure and humankind heritage that need to be protected and used for economic development. A strong national program on plant genetic resources conservation and management should develop the capacity to systematically acquire, characterize, evaluate, conserve, regenerate, distribute and use these collections in programs which deal with crop and ecosystem improvements to enhance food and nutrition security, alleviate poverty and improve the environment. The International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) has provided assistance to national programs in ensuring that there is adequate coordination, transfer of conservation technology, human resource capacity development and information dissemination whichwill enhance the country's capacity to conserve, develop and manage its plant gebetic resources for agro-industrial development. It has also catalyzed the necessary regional and international linkages and networkings, including facilitating bilateral and multilateral germplasm exchanges on mutually agreeable grounds, in order to help enhance this national capacity building. A set of criteria for assessing national capacity, in accordance with the Global Plan of Action for plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, were identified to assist in developing strategic interventions needed for national capacity building to promote appropriate conservation and management of plant genetic resources. Among others, a national germplasm system and national genebank are necessary ingredients of a strong national pgr program. A strong national program on plant genetic resources (pgr) is the foundation of a strong global pgr program. It is recognized that the "seed" encapsulates not only the gift of nature honed by millions years of evolution and the gift of human society's creativeness and knowledge but, more importantly, it represents the very key to human survival in an ever changing and uncertain world that we live in. Destroy or squander this "seed" and we jeopardize our very own survival and the survival of our children's children.