The Role of CGIAR in the Global System of PGRFA Conservation and Use

Abstract

Introduction This short paper is dedicated to celebrating the 80th birthday of Dr RS Paroda, who has been champion of the genetic resources’ conservation in India and a strong supporter of the CGIAR genebanks, especially the ICRISAT genebank that is named after him. This team wishes him many more years to his healthy life. This paper provides a high-level overview of the globally coordinated system for plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) conservation and sustainable use under the framework of the United National Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO). The paper also considers the role that CGIAR Centers, particularly their genebanks, have historically played within that system, and how recent reforms to the CGIAR system could infl uence the role it plays. Finally, the paper ends with a few recommendations for further development of the global system.