Changing Responsibilities and Roles for Plant Genetic Resources within the CGIAR System

Abstract

A paper prepared by IBPGR (in transition to becoming IPGRI) describing the process by which the various elements of the CGIAR System had thus far considered the definitions of their roles in relation to plant genetic resources. It reviews the opinions of the centers and the possible future roles for IPGRI and the Inter Center Working Group on Plant Genetic Resources (ICWG). It suggests redefining the role of the joint Center Directors/TAC Committee on CGIAR Plant Genetic Resources.There are five annexes: 'Towards a CGIAR Strategy for Plant Genetic Resources: A Discussion Paper by IBPGR' which was considered at TAC 57; an opinion survey sent by IBPGR to commodity centers on their role in collection, documentation, and preservation of genetic resources; a summary of center responses; a 1992 version of a paper by Wolfgang Siebeck and John Barton on the legal concept of applying the concept of trust to CGIAR germplasm collections; and a model agreement placing an IARC germplasm collection under FAO auspices. The whole paper was an agenda document at TAC 59, and Annex I was on the agenda at TAC 57.