Introductory Course to the International Treaty on PGRFA

The Seed industry exists to provide high quality seed to farmers and growers. The value of seed is a measure of its ability to establish the desired field stand at low planting rates, grow into plants which are high-yielding, healthy, and the established type. The livelihood of farmers and the ultimate health of communities relies on the ability of seed to perform and grow into a crop that can be harvested and eaten. A system of laws and regulations has developed over time to protect societies and food systems from liability and risk. A seed conditioner must understand the system of laws and regulations in place, ensure that the conditioning plant and its operation are maintaining seed varietal identity through the entire process and avoid introduction of contaminants. This course is fifth in a series which will walk you through foundational concepts of seed conditioning.

This lesson discusses the importance of plant breeding through history, how one would recognize if the seed they are conditioning is protected by intellectual property rights; and more importantly, what are the mandatory best practices for seed conditioners when handling plant variety protected seed. This course is third in a series which will walk you through foundational concepts of seed conditioning.

A core part of CGIAR’s work is strengthening the global genebanks community so that more people can access the crop diversity they need. The following online courses are available:

• Genetic Resources Policies: This online course will help you to appreciate how daily operations of genebanks and breeding programmes are affected by national and international laws and organizational policies governing access to, and use of, plant genetic resources and related information.
• Seed Quality Management: This online course covers the underlying biology of seed development and germination, the latest scientific discoveries and practical steps to improve seed viability and longevity.

This module is the third in the BGCI Botanic Garden Basics series and provides an introduction to the environmental policies and frameworks relevant for botanic gardens. It is aimed at botanic garden curators/collection managers/data managers who are interested in an introduction to international environmental policies and how these might be implemented in botanic gardens.

By the end of this module you will:

1. Have an understanding of the main international policies and frameworks that are relevant to the work of botanic gardens, including: 
   • The Convention on Biological Diversity
   • The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation
   • Access and Benefit Sharing
   • The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
   • The Sustainable Development Goals
2. Understand how such policies are implemented at the national level
3. Appreciate the importance of these policies to the work of botanic gardens
4. Know what policies and guidelines should be implemented in your garden to ensure compliance with these international frameworks and policies.

This course provides an overview of the legal and historical perspectives that led to the development of the Multilateral System of Access and Benefit-sharing (Multilateral System). It emphasizes the importance of the exchange and transfer of plant genetic resources in order to feed a growing global population. It also outlines the principles required to effectively plan, implement and operate the Multilateral System within a national context.

This course offers certification.

This course has been developed to support countries in the analysis and reporting for SDG Indicators 2.5.1 and 2.5.2. These indicators measure the achievement of SDG target 2.5, which focuses on maintaining genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants and farmed and domesticated animals and their related wild species. The course illustrates the fundamental concepts upon which the methodology is based.

You will learn about:

• Understanding the concept of genetic resources for food and agriculture, how to conserve these resources and the main threats to plant and animal diversity
• Discusses how to monitor, conserve and report on plant genetic resources, as well as how to interpret SDG Indicator 2.5.1 from WIEWS
• Discusses how to monitor, conserve and report on animal genetic resources, as well as how to interpret SDG Indicators 2.5.1 and 2.5.2 from DAD-IS