(NISM) on the Implementation of the Global Plan of Action - World ...

I. INTRODUCTION
On 7 July 2002 the Royal Government of Cambodia accepted the International Treaty on Plant
Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, which was approved by the FAO Conference at its 31 st
session in November 2001 pursuant to its Article 26 and undertook to abide by its provisions.
Plant genetic resources (PGR) are considered an important part of cultural heritage, national identity
and resources. PGR are the basis for food security and safety. The International Treaty on Plant
Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) is therefore crucial for the sustainable
conservation of plant genetic resources’ and food security. For this reason, the government is
actively engaged in addressing issues such as: The development of plant varieties that can be
adapted to different tastes and growing conditions; How to elaborate a system where the richness of
nature may be used for research and breeding programs; Adaptation of crops to changing
environments and the challenges of increasing food production.
The Royal Government of Cambodia is a committed to participating in the international processes
with the aim of sustainable development, germplasm conservation and sustainable use of genetic
resources. To this end Cambodia is a Contracting Country to the “International Treaty on Plant
Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture” since this is also closely related to the fulfillment of
the UN Millennium Development Goals.
The project “Capacity Building and Enhanced Regional Collaboration for the Conservation
and Sustainable Use of Plant Genetic Resource in Asia” (GCP/RAS/240/JPN) is implemented
by the FAO Regional Office for the Asia and the Pacific. The project funded by the government of
Japan aims (1) to promote the implementation of the twenty priority activity areas of the GPA for
the conservation and sustainable utilization of PGRFA; and (2) to contribute to the establishment of
a continuing monitoring framework of the GPA implementation at national and regional levels and
a mechanism for gathering and sharing information, as well as for priority setting for GPA
implementation.
The Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) became the project
member after signing of an LOA between CARDI and Food and Agriculture of United Nation
(FAO) on November 17, 2009. The purpose of the project is to strengthen capacity and
collaboration on PGRFA, and particularly institutionalizing regular updating of National
Information Sharing Mechanism of Global Plan of Action (<strong>NISM</strong>-GPA) PGRFA database which is
the main monitoring mechanism of the GPA. The project activities are aimed to support Cambodia
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