1. ERPANET/CODATA International Workshop – 15 – 17 December2003 - Lisbon Managing biological information: options and added value examples from genetic resources Weber Amaral, PhD

2. Introduction Strategies for conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources Case studies and examples of information platforms and services Conclusion ERPANET/CODATA International Workshop – 15 – 17 December2003 - Lisbon

3. “The architect is presented with inconclusive or contradictory information on problems of building technique, and no independent authority is prepared to give guidance on the relative merits of alternative products and systems” Michael Ventris, 1950 The man who deciphered linear B

4. One of 15 Future Harvest centers of the CGIAR IPGRI-What it is An International Institute that helps partners look after and use genetic diversity

6. Biodiversity and Agrobiodiversity 10,000 edible spp. and wild relatives 20 staple crops of global importance 100 species provide 90% of human nutrition

7. Multiple landscapes Diversity in production systems Molecular analysis GIS and other toolsMultiple stakeholders Interdisciplinary approaches and meta-data analysis

8. Ex situ Conservation Conserving species outside of their natural habitat, for example in a genebank

9. In situ Conservation Conserving plant populations in their natural habitat Cultivated species and their wild relatives: in the habitat in which they were domesticated

10. Collections in the CGIAR Landraces Wild species Advanced cultivars 27 % 59 % 14 %  11 genebanks  600,000 accessions  well documented  mostly landraces  public domain

11. Strategy http://singer.cgiar.org Evaluation Passport http://cimmyt.cgiar.org

13. Impact studies on Germplasm flows 19 % 81 % Developed countries Developing countries

14. Impact studies on Germplasm flows “Flows”: ICRISAT Groundnut 12% 20% 14% 8% 5% 11% 10%

15. Breeding (43%) Evaluation (26%) Biotic & abiotic stress (12%) Fodder (13%) Dual (6%) Impact studies on Germplasm flows ICRISAT Sorghum purpose

16. What variables are needed in the “meta-dictionary”? The data should be targeted towards answering the following questions: –The amount and distribution of diversity on-farm: what diversity is maintained on farm, where is it and how is it distributed? –How is this diversity maintained: the processes used to maintain this diversity? –Who maintains this diversity and who make decisions on what and how is should be maintained? –Why: what factors influence the maintenance and management of diversity on-farm?

17. What is in a name? Is the cultivar name the unit farmers manage or a set of traits? What is the relationship of farmers’ names to genetic distinctiveness? Same traits different names Same name different traits Populations A, B, C, D, E had no names but were recognized as different units of diversity by farmers by a set of common traits

18. In Situ data structure and data management Houshold (HH) Farmers’ traits to distinguish FUD Farmers Unit of Diversity Management Traits to select seeds/ clones/ pollen Preferred traits Member of HH Plot Site information for one season Agromorphic, Biochem/Molecular Charaterisation --genetic diversity - -unique traits Evaluation of traits Farmer plot management practices Seed/clone/ pollen storage Seed/clone/ pollen flows Plot x FUD x Time Village Who: Decides practice Does the practice Crop x village Crop Policies Market Climate Farmers’ perception of environment (a/biotic, social, economic)

19. Information management: One size fits all? From the field to end users: quality & validation Systems: robust, flexible, easy to use Sense of ownership & policy issues

20. Adding value Farmers need to benefit in some way from conserving diversity. Improving how produce is marketed can increase incomes and provide an incentive to continue conserving.

21. Farmers: biological information and market demands

22. Biological diversity and cultural diversity

23. Obrigado Thank you Visit IPGRI @ www.ipgri.cgiar.org