Global Strategy for the Ex Situ Conservation of Potato - Global Crop ...

of germplasm effectively. As can be noticed from Table 2, some of the genebanks listed in
Table 3 have indicated that their storage facilities are not up to standards.
Not included are seven collections, which conserve limited, rarely unique germplasm. The
scoring is based on the information of the questionnaire and the judgement of the consultant.
Annex 9 presents a ranking of the quality of performance of eight genebank functions in 16
relevant potato genebanks. Genebanks are listed in decreasing order of perceived quality of
performance of genebank functions. To arrive at such estimate, each genebank function has
been given the same weight.
It can be concluded that a group of ten genebanks perform the eight major genebank
functions concerned generally well, whereas the lower six collections exhibit constraints in
their performance.
7.4 An analysis of the capacity of potato genebanks to meet eligibility principles
A number of countries hosting collections that have been given high priority for support have
not yet signed or ratified the International Treaty (Annex 8). In such cases, conditions for
access and benefit sharing of PGRFA which conservation is to be supported by the Trust still
need to be clarified and agreed. Institutions in countries which do not meet the Trust’s
eligibility criteria with regard to the International Treaty of PGRFA, may be requested to sign
the “Solemn Undertaking for access or conservation” in stead (Annex 10a and b).
8. Process for the implementation of the strategy
In chapter 7, two different options for Trust support, i.e. the funding of collaborative projects
involving participation of several genebanks, and capacity building and upgrading of
individual genebanks have been proposed.
8.1 Collaborative project implementation
The participants in the Lima workshop agreed to establish a Consortium that can be
consulted by the Trust and that, at the request of the Trust, might oversee the
implementation of a potato conservation strategy. The activities of the Association of Potato
Inter-genebank Collaborators (APIC) conducted from 1990 to 2002 were much appreciated
by the participants in the Lima workshop, and it was accepted that the newly established
Consortium should take over the role of APIC as a global potato conservation group.
At the request of the Trust, the Consortium could also oversee a process for the further
development of pre-proposals based on the priorities outlined above. The three prioritised
pre-proposals (see 7.2) need to be further elaborated, and for this purpose an advisory
group was appointed consisting of the focal persons of the originaly suggested five projects
and additional advisors. The following arrangements were made in the Lima workshop:
I. Focal persons for the five pre-proposals were identified:
! Documentation (1); Reinhard Simon (CIP) and Roel Hoekstra (CGN)
! Regeneration (2); Andrea Clausen (INTA)
! Health screening (3); Enrique Chuioy (CIP)
! Conservation Standards (4); A. Panta (CIP) and Ximena Cadima (PROINPA)
! Rationalisation: Carlos Arbizu (CIP)
•
II. The advisory group was established, and the following members were agreed:
! Seven focal persons (see II)
! John Bamberg (USDA-ARS/ NP6)
! Gavin Ramsey (CPC)
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