Loss of Germplasm

Country reports on the state of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture prepared as a contribution to the first Report on the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA) confirmed that losses of diversity have been significant and that erosion continues. Erosion of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture will significantly negatively affect seed production. Of major concern is the irreversible loss of genes, the basic functional unit of inheritance and the primary source of variation in appearance, characteristics and behaviour among plants. In order to overcome this problem, better coordination is needed at the national, regional and continental levels to enhance the collection, conservation and use of important germplasm for Africa.