SAFEGUARDING AND SHARING PLANT GENETIC-RESOURCES

It has become increasingly clear during the last few decades that meet ing the food needs of the world's growing population depends, to a lar ge extent, on the conservation and utilization of the world's remainin g plant genetic resources. it is in this context that the Internationa l Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources takes place in Leipz ig, Germany in June 1996. Organized by the UN Food and Agriculture Org anization, in close cooperation with IPGRI and other partners, the Con ference will bring together experts and officials from more than 150 c ountries to review and finalize the first comprehensive report on the State of the World's Plant Genetic Resources for Food cmd Agriculture (FAG, 1996) and consider for formal adoption a Global Plan of Action f or the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resou rces for Food and Agriculture. The Conference aims to mobilize global action to safeguard plant genetic resources for future generations and to ensure their sustainable and equitable use.