The Second Report on the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture – SoWPGR-2 – provides a comprehensive overview of recent trends in PGRFA conservation and use around the world. It is based on information gathered from more than 100 countries, as well as from regional and international research and support organizations and academic programmes. The report documents the current status of plant genetic resources diversity, conservation and use, as well as the extent and role of national, regional and international efforts that underpin the contributions of PGRFA to food security. It highlights the most significant changes that have occurred in the sector since 1996, when the first report on The State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture was produced by FAO, as well as the gaps and needs that remain for setting future priorities. The SoWPGR-2 provided the basis for the updating of the Global Plan of Action for the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (GPA).

The synthetic account is a snapshot of the main changes and urgent needs in managing, safeguarding and using PGRFA, as well as in the area of national and international collaboration, to further increase PGRFA contribution to global food security.
The synthetic account SOWPGR-2 is now also available in German here.

The Second Report on State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture was launched on the 26 October, 2010 at FAO HQ. It received wide press coverage. See more here.