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Archives
March 16-31, 2001
BAR launches Plant Genetic Resources
Network
by Thea Kristina M. Pabuayon
In a bold move to put a serious effort
to conserve the country's dwindling plant genetic resources,
the Bureau of Agricultural Research in cooperation with
the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) launched the National
Network for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of
Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA)
in a ceremony held at the BPI compound on 23 March 2001.
National Scientist and University of the
Philippines Professor Dolores Ramirez explained the
urgency of the situation, saying "This is the first
time that there is a serious effort on PGR...we have
to conserve our resources - fast (because) there is
permanent loss of genetic diversity due to industrialization
and land conversion practices."
Guest of honor was DA Undersecretary Ernesto
Ordoñez who represented DA Secretary Montemayor
to the affair.
Ordoñez encouraged and congratulated
BPI for their initiatives on PGR, which is in harmony
with Montemayor's two main agenda that deal on improving
the plight of poor farmers and fisherfolk, and people
empowerment. "As we conserve (our PGR), we continue
to develop the best varieties that we can produce and
multiply it. However, these would be of no use if we
cannot spread it, thus the need to commercialize,"
he added.
As part of the ceremony, symbolic cheques
to fund the network were turned over by Ordoñez
and BAR Director Eliseo Ponce to BPI (P3 million), the
networks major partner Institute of Plant Breeding (P3
million) and the National Plant genetics resources Laboratory
in U.P. Los Baños (P4 million).
The PGRFA network was created to support
the country’s efforts to continuously conserve
its biodiversity. Under the network, a national system
for collection, conservation, regeneration, multiplication,
characterization, documentation and utilization of PGR
shall be established.
The network shall be composed of various
research centers and institutions in the country. The
National Plant Genetics Resources Laboratory shall maintain
the national base collection of all crops, which shall
include duplicates of all collections and information
of the centers.
Network leader Ceferino Baniqued however
stated that the centers’ activities are quite disconnected,
causing a lot of duplicates and gaps in the conservation
efforts. “It is imperative therefore, for the institutions
to choose which collection to maintain based on their
financial capabilities, manpower complement and facilities,”
Baniqued said.
“Should the PGR network be operational,
the first thing to be done is training,” Ramirez
added. “Most centers just collect, they don’t
know their limit- only few are trained on PGR. Many
of the collections are elite germplasm without a wide
range of genetic diversity. With proper training, PGR
should then be imbibed and internalized by the centers,”
she said. 
March 16-31 2001 Articles: ::
COGENT visits BAR
::
Understanding genes, their effects & behavior thru molecular bio
::
17 NaRDSAF members receive scholarship grants
::
A need for an institution -- SSAC
::
Philippine Mariculture Industry Regulation Criteria proposed
::
BAR launches Plant Genetic Resources Network
::
Roles and functions of RIARCS strengthened
::
BAR prepares for 22nd SOM-AMAF meeting
::
New DOST head speaks in women's seminar
::: More March 2001 articles :::
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