Hands-on crop conservation

The conservation of plant genetic resources at farm level has been recognized by the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) as having an important role in saving potentially useful varieties, and even species of plants, from extinction. Such in situ conservation makes a direct contribution to the well-being of communities, according to Dr Toby Hodgkin, Director of the Genetic Diversity Group at IPGRI. He adds that by ensuring that traditional varieties of crops remain available to farmers for their own use, it allows for more sustainable agricultural development than when there is reliance on only one or two specific types. Ethiopia is one country enthusiastically pursuing this on-farm conservation. As one of the world's most important centres of agricultural biodiversity, Ethiopia has already demonstrated itself as a leader among African countries in the development of both gene banks (ex situ) and on-farm (in situ) conservation. The Biodiversity Institute in Ethiopia has as one of its main objectives the support of farming communities in their efforts to maintain crop diversity and to achieve food security at household level. This work in Ethiopia is being financed through the Global Environment Facility (GEF), while IPGRI is assisting with technical support. Dr Toby Hodgkin Director, Genetic Diversity Group IPGRI Via delle Sette Chiese 142 00145 Rome, ITALYThe conservation of plant genetic resources at farm level has been recognized by the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) as having an important role in saving potentially useful varieties, and even species of plants, from..