Policies on Genetic Resources Utilization
A number of international conventions, agreements and guidelines govern the use of genetic resources and the related issues of biotechnology and intellectual property rights. Research centres under the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) have developed and agreed on various policy instruments, guidelines and position statements to guide and validate their decisions regarding genetic resources.
International Policies
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
The objectives of this Treaty are the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of their use
FAO listing of invasive trees and shrub species
This is a listing by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of invasive plant species. A related link can be found here at the FAO website
Guide for the CGIAR Centres’ Use of the Standard Material Transfer Agreement (SMTA)
This is a guide for the CGIAR Centres’ use of the Standard Material Transfer Agreement. A related article on can be found at the IUCN website
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
The objectives of this Treaty are the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of their use
FAO listing of invasive trees and shrub species
This is a listing by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of invasive plant species. A related link can be found here at the FAO website
Guide for the CGIAR Centres’ Use of the Standard Material Transfer Agreement (SMTA)
This is a guide for the CGIAR Centres’ use of the Standard Material Transfer Agreement. A related article on can be found at the IUCN website
ICRAF and Forest Landscape Denmark Policy briefs
Better Trees on-farm in Africa I
The contribution of National Tree Seed Centres to development of small-scale tree planting
Better Trees on-farm in Africa II
How can the input supply of tree seed and planting material to the small-scale African tree planters be improved?
Documents and Policies used in handling genetic Material
This document addresses ICRAF’s policy for acquisition and distribution of tree genetic resources, access and benefit sharing, including of technologies and information related to tree germplasm. The policy is intended to facilitate awareness of and compliance to the international agreements that guide access to germplasm and information.
In consideration of the legal issues that have arisen from increasing recognition of the importance of plant genetic resources for agriculture and forestry and given that ICRAF has always supplied tree seed free of charge through donor-supported programmes, an IPR related policy was formulated to deal with germplasm exchange between regions made applicable to date.
In pursuit of the institute’s mission and vision, ICRAF works with a wide range of tree species, including many that are alien and potentially invasive. This policy is intended to minimize unanticipated negative impacts of alien species to biodiversity, ecosystems and human enterprise that could result from both intentional and unintentional introductions.
ICRAF Genetic Resources Strategy
This is the five-year action plan to be implemented in partnership with collaborating NARS and farmers in order to attain the standards required for a world class agroforestry tree germplasm resource.
International Plant Germplasm Exchange Protocol
This is a document between the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate (KEPHIS) and the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) that seeks to ensure that phytosanitary regulations are adhered to during the movement of plant germplasm.
Standard Material Transfer Protocol
The objectives of the Treaty are the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of their use. Being a signatory to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, ICRAF genebank distributes the agroforestry seeds via the Standard Material Transfer Agreement (SMTA).
Plant genetic resources are a strategic resource at the heart of sustainable crop production. Their e·cient conservation and use is critical to safeguard food and nutrition security, now and in the future. Meeting this challenge will require a continued stream of improved crops and varieties adapted to particular agro- ecosystem conditions. The loss of genetic diversity reduces the options for sustainably managing resilient agriculture, in the face of adverse environments, and rapidly fluctuating meteorological conditions. Well-managed genebanks both safeguard genetic diversity and make it available to breeders. The Genebank Standards for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, prepared under the guidance of the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, and endorsed at its Fourteenth Regular Session in 2013, lay down the procedures that need to be followed for conservation of plant genetic resources. The Commission recognizes them as being of universal value in germplasm conservation throughout the world.
FAO Phytosanitary certificate guidelines
The standard describes principles and guidelines for the preparation and issue of phytosanitary certificates and phytosanitary certificates for re-export.
FAO Pest Risk Analysis Guidelines
The standard provides details for the conduct of pest risk analysis (PRA) to determine if pests are quarantine pests. It describes the integrated processes to be used for risk assessment as well as the selection of risk management options.
GRU Checklist for Proposal Review
This is the template for the genebank Proposal Review. Download here
Other Information Sources
