“In a rapidly changing world, it’s wonderful to see a renewed commitment from partners to safeguard their resources in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault."
“It doesn’t help to have the most perfect crop collections in the world, if no one knows what they contain. That is why information systems are so important.”
"2016 was one of the most iconic years in the organization’s history to date. I am extremely proud of the strides we made in growing our ever-important network of partners."
"The effects of climate change put crop diversity front and center. Diverse crops enable farmers to provide adequate food and nutrition, not only for their families but for others as well."
"It matters not what continent we live in, nor where our favorite crop comes from – e.g. maize from Mesoamerica, rice from Southeast Asia, wheat from the Fertile Crescent. We all eat. And we all benefit from crop diversity."
"We are deeply grateful for all contributions and pledges of all sizes because they show the continued power of the hope we all share, a hope for a food secure world."
Grants to conserve crop diversity world wide increased in 2016
2015
USD 28.4 Million
2016
USD 32.4 Million
+14%
Credits
Crop Trust
Securing our food, forever
The Crop Trust is fortunate to have support from across the world all dedicated to realizing one common vision: a food secure world.
The Crop Trust would like to thank the following people for their support for this year’s annual report: Ambassador Walter Fust, Mary Ann Sayoc, the Crop Trust Staff, Scriptoria, Epic Agency, In Fine Co/Creative Agency and Getty Images Reportage.
Platz der Vereinten Nationen 7 53113 Bonn, Germany
www.croptrust.org
Crop Trust Information Systems Manager, Matija Obreza, discussed the importance of Genesys, the online portal for plant genetic resources, in a video interview.
A capacity building workshop on collecting was held at MARDI headquarters and brought together participants from Pakistan, Vietnam, Nepal and Malaysia.
The University of Okayama in Japan and Seed Savers Exchange in the United States made the first deposit of 2016 with the deposit of 3,529 new accessions of barley and vegetable crops.
Distributions of hundreds of crop wild relatives were mapped globally to identify areas where they remain under-collected. The results of this “gap-analysis” were published in Nature Plants in March.
The Conference brought together representatives from governments, private organizations and multi-lateral institutions from around the world to make a joint commitment to safeguard crop diversity.
“Safeguarding crop diversity, forever, is indeed a challenge – and a big responsibility - in which we must all partake.” - Her Excellency Ameenah Gurib-Fakim.
The CWR project published its first animated video – highlighting exactly what the wild relatives of our domesticated crops are and why they are so important.
Researchers from CIAT and the Crop Trust looked at the origins of our food crops and quantified the level of interconnectedness of national diets in a study that is the first of its kind.
The first spotlight interview featured author and educator, Simran Sethi, who discussed her latest book, “Bread, Wine and Chocolate: The Slow Loss of Foods We Love.”
Staff attended the UNFCCC NAP Expo in Bonn, where our Executive Director, Marie Haga, discussed crop diversity and its role in mitigating the effects of climate change.
Sophie Chou, from the World Vegetable Center spent 2 weeks at the Crop Trust learning about best data management practices and published the collection's latest passport data on Genesys.
The Crop Trust accompanied our CWR partners in Central America on exploratory field trips where they searched for wild rice, bean, eggplant, potato and sweet potato.
A total of 53 genebank staff joined the Crop Trust in Nairobi, Kenya at ICRAF headquarters for the 2nd GOAL workshop. "We are what we repeatedly do. Quality then is not an act, but a habit."
Chairing the Donor's Council for the first time was the Netherlands' FAO Ambassador, Dr. Hans Hoogeveen who announced further support to the Crop Trust from the Netherlands in the future.
We welcomed the Executive Board to our offices in Bonn. Board Chair, Mr. Walter Fust and member, Mary Ann Sayoc, were both re-nominated at the Donors' Council earlier in the month.
Executive Director, Marie Haga traveled to Wellington, New Zealand where she was pleased to sign a NZD 2M donor agreement with the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Marie then went to Canberra to sign 2 new agreements: an AUD 5M grant to the endowment and a project agreement: “Strengthening Crop Conservation Post Cyclone Winston.”
The Crop Trust and India signed a MoU, inspired by our common objectives to protect crop diversity for the future of agriculture and in support of their new contribution.
The Crop Trust co-sponsored and participated in the 1st International Agro-biodiversity Congress held in New Delhi, India. While in the region, Marie Haga visited our partners at ICRISAT.
The Crop Trust mission contains two key elements for success: conservation and fundraising. This year in particular saw great progress on both fronts, highlighted by two key events, the Crop Trust Pledging Conference and the Annual Meeting of Genebank Managers (AGM).
The Crop Trust hosted a Ministerial Luncheon in Berlin at Green Week, 15 January 2016.
Photo: Luis Salazar
The Crop Trust welcomed representatives from BGI to the secretariat in Bonn, 22 April 2016.
Photo: Cierra Martin
The Crop Trust participated in Bonn’s 20th Anniversary as Germany’s United Nations City, 26 June.
Photo: Luis Salazar
Crop Trust staff visited the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA) at its headquarters in Guatemala, September 2016.
Photo: Luis Salazar
The Crop Trust hosted an expert consultation group meeting at our headquarters in Bonn, co-hosted by IPK Gatersleben. The meeting, which took place from 29 November to 1 December 2016, discussed the current crop coverage of ex situ collections.
Photo: Luis Salazar
Marie Haga, Crop Trust Executive Director, posed with participants at the Berkeley Forum where she gave a keynote speech, 20 April 2016.
Photo: The Berkeley Forum
Crop Trust Pledging Conference
On 15 April 2016, the Crop Trust took our largest step to date in building the Endowment Fund with a successful international Pledging Conference. The event took place in Washington, DC at the time of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Spring Meetings. More than 60 representatives of governments and private partners came together to forge a broad coalition for the global common good of crop diversity. The conference was co-chaired by the Governments of Germany and Norway, and Jan Eliasson, former Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, delivered the keynote address.
The meeting paved the way for doubling the Crop Trust Endowment Fund to USD 300 million, thanks to new financial commitments from Australia, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, the United States and DuPont Pioneer. Governments and private sector donors also committed to projects to collect and safeguard crop diversity. Norway pledged a major contribution to the Crop Wild Relatives Project, while Japan, a first-time supporter, announced its support of a regional project to unlock the genetic potential of African rice. Another cooperation agreement was signed with Brazil.
“We owe it to future generations to provide them with the tools they will need for sustainable existence.
Today’s meeting marks a historic step towards this goal. International cooperation can protect the foundation of world agriculture and generate new crops for the survival of our children and grandchildren.”-Jan Eliasson, Former Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations
More than sixty representatives of the public and private sector joined together at the Crop Trust Pledging Conference, held at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. in April 2016 to announce support for safeguarding crop diversity.
Photo: Crop Trust
"Your chapati, your tortilla, your slice of bread, your sushi, your morning coffee, your afternoon tea, your evening soup, your nightcap, even your meat - almost everything you eat and drink has its basis in seeds,” said Marie Haga. “The existing millions of varieties of seeds add up to one of our most important natural resources and global common goods."
Photo: Crop Trust
“The Crop Trust goes beyond biodiversity,” said Jan Eliasson, Former Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations. “It is fundamentally about the way we preserve our planet and about the legacy we leave to the future.”
Photo: Crop Trust
Jerry Flint of DuPont Pioneer and Marie Haga, Crop Trust Executive Director celebrated the signing of DuPont Pioneer's renewed commitment to the Crop Trust Endowment Fund during the Conference. The pledge of USD 250,000 follows DuPont's original contribution of USD 1 million in 2004.
Photo: Crop Trust
Vincent Bradley of METal International offered a motivating presentation on the forthcoming initiative to conserve grass pea. He said "this is such a great organization, and I’m really happy to have this opportunity to contribute and be a part."
Photo: Crop Trust
Dr Sarada Krishnan of World Coffee Research (WCR) presented an overview of the ongoing collaborative efforts between the Crop Trust and WCR to develop a global crop conservation strategy for the world’s coffee diversity. The conservation strategy for coffee was finalized in 2016, an provided an opportunity to review the history of the world’s coffee collections and assess the number of challenges that coffee and its genetic resources face.
Photo: Crop Trust
AGM 2016
Each year, the Crop Trust convenes the women and men who look after the international collections managed by the CGIAR Centers to discuss their activities during the past year and to make plans for the following year. Having all parties in one room to interact face-to-face is extremely valuable for our coordinated approach to global conservation. The meeting also serves as an opportunity to debate particular technical issues and get better acquainted with the national and regional programs in the region.
This year’s AGM took place in Australia and involved many local stakeholders, including our hosts, the Australian Grains Genebank in Horsham. The sessions were attended by more than 50 scientists from Australia, Belgium, Benin, Colombia, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, India, Italy, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria and the Philippines.
“I met an enthusiastic and very dedicated group of people who learn from each other and push one another forward, all united in their passion to safeguard our food for generations to come.”-Marie Haga, Crop Trust Executive Director
Presentations and seminars covered a wide range of topics, from data management tools to clonal crops to forage conservation. Participants also discussed the upcoming Genebank Platform, the next phase in our global partnership with the CGIAR System Organization, and the role of genebanks in supporting the Sustainable Development Goals.
