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| Author: | M.D.M. Santos |
Abstract:
In spite of the enormous contribution of Plant Genetic Resources to past agricultural development, they have the potential to contribute even more in the future - through the adoption of innovative research strategies for crop improvement and ‘conservation through use’ methodologies that will provide farmers and rural communities with a basis for sustainable and increased production.
There are several limitations for the utilization of genetic materials by breeding programs and by traditional farming communities.
These are mainly related to the lack of characterization and evaluation data; lack of information on materials existing in both ex-situ and in-situ collections; poor coordination of policies at national level; poor integration of genebanks, users of germplasm and farming communities; difficulty in handling large collections; small range of species addressed in research activities; lack of market incentives and, more recently, the inability for breeding programs to incorporate molecular oriented breeding techniques and functional genomics in their R&D routines in the search for and use of new useful genes.
This presentation will explore alternatives on how to approach these limitations, in order to keep genetic resources at the center of global strategies that will meet the needs of present and future sustainable development and food production.
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