National Pasture Genetic Resource Centre - transitional agreement

Summary

Australia is a signatory to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resource for Food and Agriculture (Treaty) and is custodian to the world’s largest, globally unique and significant collection of pasture and forage genetic resources. Improved germplasm of pasture and forage species are the foundation of our national feedbase. Conservation and use of genetic diversity is fundamental to meeting new challenges and future proofing the feedbase.

Australian pastures and forage collections were deteriorating and at risk of being mothballed. In 2011 all Australian States agreed to establish a national pastures genetic resource centre to be based at SARDI and in 2013 national Research & Development Corporations agreed in principle to co-invest in the Australian Pastures Genebank (APG).

This project's purpose was to provide SARDI the opportunity to maintain the APG and enable the development of an agreed set of terms for its governance, management and operation.

Agreement for the funding, governance, management and operation of the APG has been achieved between SARDI and Meat & Livestock Australia, Grains Research and Development Corporation, Dairy Australia, Australian Wool Innovation and the Rural Research and Development Corporation.

The outcomes of this project have provided an opportunity for Australia to meet its legal and moral obligations under the Treaty and support the conservation and management of Australia’s pastures and forage genetic resources to International standards for the benefit of Australian Industry and global food security.