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IPGRI SUPPORT TO NETWORKING ACTIVITIES IN THE AMERICAS
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Ramon LASTRA, David E. WILLIAMS
IPGRI Office of the Americas, A.A. 6713, Cali, Colombia |
Networking in Latin America and the Caribbean
 Since the late 1980s,
IPGRI has been a driving force in advancing the concept of networks which
link the plant genetic resources activities of national programmes, research
institutes and other institutions with common interests. Today, about 150
countries worldwide are involved in some form of genetic resources networking.
The networks themselves have become a platform for sharing resources, ideas,
technologies and information. Networks have become an efficient mechanism
for enabling countries to share the responsibilities, costs, and to promote
the establishment of joint conservation strategies based on common affinities.
The grouping of countries in the networks takes in consideration that crop
genetic diversity tends to distribute itself according to ecological and
socioeconomic parameters.
To maximize the effectiveness of all national efforts, IPGRI has supported
in the America the development of five ecoregional networks, which include
most countries in the region. Three of them are the result of collaboration
between IPGRI, IICA and other partners including regional agricultural centers
as CATIE, CARDI and national institutions of the member countries. While
PGR activities in some countries are very sophisticated and include an extensive
national programme and modern genebank facilities, efforts in other countries
can be severely constrained by economic and human resource limitations
Networks bring together countries which share common agro-ecologies and
crop species, and allow them to share goals, resources and information.
So far, the networks in Latin America have proven to be an effective and
economic means of addressing subregional conservation challenges, making
efficient use of scarce resources and linking conservation with utilization.
Network members share germplasm and related data, jointly plan strategies
for germplasm collecting and conservation, and identify research priorities
on the basis of consensus.
Partners: Network
partners include national, regional and international organizations, including
public, private, and community-based. Partners are selected based on criteria
of need, expertise, and complementarity. At present, national partners in
the Americas consist primarily of NARS and universities. The networks are
further strengthened by regional and international partners. IICA, the Interamerican
Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture, operating under the aegis of the
Organization of American States, and its Cooperative Research Programs,
or PROCIs, are key partners of the networks, providing an essential political
umbrella under which IPGRI can work. CATIE, the Tropical Agronomic Center
for Research and Training, in Costa Rica, is a key partner in the Mesoamerican
network. CARDI, the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute,
is a key player in the Anglophone Caribbean and will be an important partner
in the establishment of the Caribbean network. International partners have
so far been involved in the networks to a lesser extent, but include CIRAD,
CIAT, CIP, ISNAR and FAO.
Priorities: Network
priorities are defined by the members countries themselves, although usually
in consultation with IPGRI and its partners. This approach enables IPGRI
to assist countries in resolving local problems from a 'bottom-up' perspective,
ensuring that the activities and results are appropriate and sustainable.
Cost effectiveness:
By working through a partner-based network structure, IPGRI staff time and
financial resources are optimized by sharing responsibilities with the partners.
Laboratory and field facilities are made indirectly available to IPGRI through
partner institutions. Cost effectiveness is also shared by the network partners,
who obtain a wider scope for their activities, as well as access to information
and resources that would otherwise be difficult for them to obtain.
Impact: While
the establishment and promotion of networking in the Americas is admittedly
a slow and deliberate process, the impact of IPGRI's networking activities
in the region is beginning to be felt. It has never been IPGRI's intention
to assume a dominating role in the networks. Instead, IPGRI's "background"
role of catalyst, building on national partner strengths and promoting national
partner participation in the networks is causing the member countries to
acquire a sense of responsibility and ownership of the networks which is
helping them to achieve increasing levels of self-sufficiency and self-reliance.
However, recognizing the importance of the true partnership role of the
national programs for the functioning of the networks, the progress and
success of the networks is, to a large extent, determined by the strength
and capacities of the national programs. Given the present situation of
most of the national programs throughout the region, it must be realistically
accepted that the progress of the networks is going to be a gradual process
with long-term goals and results.
In the Americas, there
are currently five Sub-Regional PGR Networks that are in very different
stages of development and, as might be expected, each sub-region has its
own distinct personality, idiosyncrasies, strengths, and constraints. Consequently,
from IPGRI's standpoint, each network presents different challenges and
requires different approaches to facilitate their operation. Also, depending
upon the progress made by each network, IPGRI's role within that network
changes according to the situation and the long-term objective of promoting
ever-increasing levels of self-sufficiency and self-reliance on the part
of the member countries.
The five different networks
supported by IPGRI are the following:
Mesoamerican Network
of Plant Genetic Resources
REMERFI 
Costa Rica, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama
The Mesoamerican Network,
REMERFI, includes the Central American republics plus Mexico. It is a well-defined
ecogeographic and cultural area, and includes the member countries in their
entirety. The principal partners in REMERFI, in addition to the member countries,
are IICA and CATIE. The major constraint facing the partners in this network
is the fact that the national PGR programs in all countries are weak at
best and, so far, the countries themselves have been unable to contribute
direct financial support to the network. The priority crops identified by
REMERFI are neotropical fruits, spices, stimulants, roots and tubers, and
forage and grain legumes.
Beginning in 1991, IPGRI,
together with IICA and CATIE, presented the first draft of a document proposing
the formation of REMERFI to the countries. In 1992 a creation proposal was
developed and the 1st Annual Meeting of the network was held. In 1993, at
the 2nd Annual Meeting, crop priorities were established, and IPGRI developed
a Coordination Project to be submitted to BMZ. Also in 1993, IPGRI wrote,
submitted to IDB, and obtained approval for the Tropical Fruits project,
the Sapotaceae portion of which is to be implemented through REMERFI. In
1994 the Sapotaceae sub-project began, with coordination provided by IPGRI.
Also in 1994, the REMERFI Coordination Project proposal was submitted to
BMZ by IICA. In 1995 the 3rd Annual Meeting of REMERFI was held, and the
Coordination Project was funded by BMZ . 1997 marked the formal establishment
of the network, an MOU was signed between IPGRI, IICA and CATIE for the
purposes of the Coordination Project. This project will be implemented beginning
in 1998.
Although the IDB Sapotaceae
subproject was implemented through the framework of REMERFI before its formal
existence was even ratified, the network had already begun to exist in the
minds of the partners. Country representatives started to feel a sense of
ownership of the network and to perceive the benefits of horizontal cooperation,
both between institutions within their country as well as with neighboring
countries. The implementation of the BMZ project, including the recruitment
of the international coordinator. Once the BMZ project is underway, REMERFI
will enter into a new, more autonomous, self-sufficient and self-sustaining
phase of its existence. IPGRI will continue to support, promote, and advise
the REMERFI coordinator and country representatives, as well as continue
seeking additional projects and funding that foster the conservation and
sustainable use of PGR in Mesoamerica.
Andean Network of Plant Genetic Resources
REDARFIT
Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador,
Peru, Venezuela, Argentina, Chile
The Andean Network,
REDARFIT, is the next most successful of the IPGRI-promoted PGR networks
in the Americas. Similar to the Mesoamerican situation, the REDARFIT member
countries have, for the most part, struggling national PGR programs and
are unable to provide financial resources to support the network. The priority
crops identified by REDARFIT are native Andean fruits, grains, roots and
tubers.
REDARFIT was established
in 1992 through a partnership between IPGRI, IICA's collaborative research
programme PROCIANDINO, and the member countries. At REDARFIT's 1st Annual
Meeting later that same year, priority crops were identified, and IPGRI
provided an international coordinator, Daniel Debouck. In 1993, REDARFIT's
2nd Annual Meeting was held, and IPGRI's Tropical Fruits project was approved
by IDB, of which the Passiflora sub-project was to be implemented through
REDARFIT. The 3rd Annual REDARFIT Meeting was held in 1994, in conjunction
with a Venezuelan national PGR congress at which over 50 institutions participated.
Later that year, at the annual PROCIANDINO meeting, an International Coordinator
from the region was named, and the IPGRI representative became the Associate
Coordinator. Also in 1994, the IDB Passiflora sub-project was initiated.
The 4th Annual Meeting of REDARFIT took place at CIAT in 1995, in conjunction
with the annual meeting of TROPIGEN. Chile and Argentina were accepted as
REDARFIT members, and Mikkel Grum replaced Daniel Debouck as the Associate
Coordinator. The 5th Annual Meeting of REDARFIT was held in 1996 in Bolivia,
in conjunction with a Bolivian national PGR meeting whose purpose was to
lay the groundwork for the establishment of a Bolivian national PGR programme.
At this REDARFIT meeting, six network-originated projects were discussed
and lead countries were assigned to develop full proposals by a fixed deadline.
IPGRI discussed its plans to produce a genebank directory of the Andean
countries. Germplasm documentation was identified as a priority need in
the sub-region and there was discussion of the possibility of collaborating
with IPGRI in the development of a large sub-regional Documentation and
Information project to be submitted for outside funding. The 6th annual
meeting was held in LIMA as a joint meeting together with TROPIGEN. In this
meeting the priorities were revised by the countries an identified the following
crops as priorities to the region: To attend this need several research
projects were identified and each country accept the responsibility to write
a proposal for funding the needed research and lead the implementation of
the programme.
Amazonian Network of Plant Genetic Resources
TROPIGEN
Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia,
Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela
The Amazonian PGR network,
TROPIGEN, includes most of the Andean countries, as well as Brazil, Guyana
and Suriname. TROPIGEN is a collaborative project between IPGRI, IICA's
collaborative research programme PROCITROPICOS, and the national partners.
The priority crops identified by this network pertain to the genera Bactris,
Theobroma, Ananas, and Carica. The development and progress of TROPIGEN
has suffered from the fact that some of the member countries are unable
to devote financial resources to the network. The Amazonian regions of most
countries are very much neglected in terms of national development priorities.
The countries members of this network varied greatly in the development
of their plant genetic resources. With the exceptions of Guyana and Suriname,
the rest of the countries have national PGR programmes, Most of the countries
are simultaneously members of one or more other PGR networks (REDARFIT,
CONOSUR) because the affinity of some crops.
Nevertheless, IPGRI
has been actively attempting to promote this network and implement PGR projects
through TROPIGEN. TROPIGEN was formed in 1993 by PROCITROPICOS and crop
priorities were identified at the 1st Annual Meeting in Colombia. The second
annual meeting was held at CIAT in 1995, and IPGRI representative, was named
Interim Coordinator. A pineapple project, prepared by IPGRI/CIRAD staffs
for implementation through TROPIGEN, was approved for funding by the European
Union. The implementation of the pineapple project is an important milestone
for TROPIGEN, and will be instrumental in the network's establishment in
the research programmes of its national partners. The last meeting was celebrated
in 1997 jointly with REDARFIT countries, taken advantage of the fact that
some of the members countries are partners in both networks
Sub-Programme for Plant Genetic Resources of the Southern Cone
PROCISUR
Argentina, Bolivia,
Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay
The Sub-Programme for
PGR of the Southern Cone is a network established in 1993 by IICA's collaborative
research programme PROCISUR, independently of IPGRI. This is the only network
in the region that is supported entirely by funds contributed by the member
countries, as part of their annual contributions to PROCISUR. The countries
of the Southern Cone represent some of the wealthiest, most agriculturally
developed countries in Latin America. Although, by invitation, IPGRI has
been involved in the PROCISUR Sub-Programme for PGR, due to the sub-region's
comparative self-sufficiency in PGR matters, combined with a comparatively
reduced level of native agrobiodiversity. IPGRI has not afforded the Southern
Cone countries the same degree of priority as other more diverse and more
needy sub-regions. Some significant activities that IPGRI has had in these
countries has been support for consultancies to develop proposals for the
creation of national PGR programmes in Paraguay and Bolivia. This two countries
possess a tremendous amount of agrobiodiversity being conserved on-farm
and in the wild, but without national programs to study, improve and protect
this untapped genetic wealth. IPGRI maintains close ties with Southern Cone
scientists and will continue to work with the PROCISUR Sub-Programme whenever
collaborative activities are identified or requested. IPGRI was also supportive
of educational activities in the area which included courses, fellowship
and scholarships to nationals of these countries to attend meetings and
workshops.
Caribbean Committee for the Management of Plant Genetic Resources
CMPGR
CARDI, CIRAD, IPGRI, IICA, INRA, UPR, TARS, USDA, UVI, UWI
(Currently has 22 members, including international institutions)
The Caribbean sub-region
is comprised of over 16 small, independent island nations and colonies that
share a common geographic and agrobiological heritage. At the same time
they are divided by water and a mosaic of linguistic and sociopolitical
differences. Moreover, the sub-region is characterized by countries with
severe economic and institutional limitations. Consequently, the sub-region
presents a unique series of challenges from the standpoint of establishing
and coordinating a PGR network.
Strong partners in the
Caribbean such as USDA/TARS in Puerto Rico, the University of the West Indies
in Trinidad, regional organizations such as CARDI, and international organizations
such as IICA and CIRAD, could all join forces through the network to resolve
common problems that most of the individual nations would have difficulty
confronting on their own. Towards this end, the Caribbean Committee for
the Management of Plant Genetic Resources, CMPGR, was established in 1993,
with IPGRI being one of the nine founding member institutions, along with
CARDI, CIRAD, IICA, and USDA. CMPGR currently has 22 member institutions,
including international organizations. In 1994, IPGRI was awarded core member
status, supported the network's 1st Programme Meeting in Puerto Rico, and
sponsored a PGR seminar in Trinidad and Tobago. In 1995, IPGRI sponsored
and conducted a workshop on field genebank management in Puerto Rico. In
1998 PROCICARIBE sponsored by IICA, and CARDI was established following
the same pattern as other PROCIS active in the region. During this event
it was approved by the assembly the proposal supported by IPGRI and the
other partners to transform the CMPGR into a full PGR network. This network
will included all countries in the Caribbean including mainland countries
with closed cultural and linguistic ties to the region like Belize, Guyana
and Suriname.
Strengthening National Programmes
Aside from the importance
the Americas Group places on networking, we are also involved in other activities
that strengthen national programmes. In those countries that do not yet
have established national PGR programmes, such as Panama, Paraguay, and
Bolivia, IPGRI has taken a proactive role. To assist these countries in
defining their particular needs and objectives, IPGRI has provided support
for national meetings and expert consultants to develop proposals for the
establishment of practical and viable national programmes.
As a strategic tool,
we are convinced that networks are the most effective means of implementing
IPGRI's modus operandi and objectives to achieve a long-term, sustainable,
and multiplicative impact. All of IPGRI's institutional objectives can be
neatly and coherently pursued within the holistic context of the networks,
where the direct beneficiaries of the activities are the target audience.
Because the networks are all-encompassing in terms of PGR activities, and
because the objective is long-term self-sustainability, it should not come
as a surprise that network building is itself a slow, deliberate process.
The advances are at a pace that is necessarily set, to a large extent, by
the national partners that constitute and own their network. Lessons learned
from the establishment and growth of the first networks are helping us improve
the rate at which the younger networks become established. IPGRI Regional
office for the America's looks forward to our continued involvement with
all 5 of the Americas networks as they become fully functional and achieve
a uniform state of maturity and self-reliance.
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