1. December 5, 2005 National Plant Germplasm System Curator’s Workshop Chicago, Illinois Karen A. Williams National Germplasm Resources Lab Beltsville, Maryland Germplasm Acquisition Issues

2. Plant Exploration/Exchange Program Proposal preparation and review Conducting explorations International issues of germplasm collection Domestic exploration Germplasm Exchange (ex situ) Plant Exchange Office facilitation of germplasm exchange and research Contents

3. History of USDA Explorations 605 explorations since 1898 every year since 1898, except 1942 – 1945 131 domestic, 474 foreign trips the establishment of regional plant introduction stations in the late 1940s and early 1950s provided for secure maintenance of introduced germplasm P.H. Dorsett, China, 1924

4. The NPGS Plant Exploration/Exchange Program Purpose: To fill gaps in the NPGS collections Administration: Plant Exchange Office (PEO), National Germplasm Resources Lab Funding: $140,000 annually

5. Plant exploration: field collection of samples of landraces and wild species not already conserved in genebanks Plant exchange: visits to foreign germplasm collections to assess collections and arrange for exchange Exploration vs. Exchange

6. NPGS Plant Explorations 1996 - 2005 Number of explorations 113 Number of countries 40 Number of CGCs represented 31

7. NPGS Plant Explorations Gap filling (taxa, environments, traits)Gap filling (taxa, environments, traits) Provide 20 % of germplasm acquisitions by the NPGSProvide 20 % of germplasm acquisitions by the NPGS Most explorations target wild germplasmMost explorations target wild germplasm Helianthus californicus California 2002

8. Proposals accepted yearly prepared according to proposal guidelines prepared by PEO separate guidelines for exploration and exchange proposals pre-proposals for foreign explorations requested in April deadline for 2007 proposals is July 7, 2006 email submission encouraged

9. Resources for Proposal Preparation G RIN accession and taxonomy data Plant exploration reports SINGER and other genebank databases CGC reports floras, monographs, etc. in – country cooperators FAO Country Reports PEO queries on GRIN Site Users’ page

16. Variations on Plans for Foreign Collecting Traditional (2 US scientists, 1 or more host country scientists) Host country scientists only, germplasm shipped CG or other scientists in cooperation with host country scientists Traditional followed by additional collecting by host country scientists

17. Endorsements for Proposals Crop curator (s) Crop Germplasm Committee(s) -- when no CGC exists for the crop, other experts may provide endorsement Wild potato exploration Ecuador 1995

18. Criteria for Evaluation of Proposals Need for collection Host country collaboration (foreign) Likelihood of success Adequacy of plan for post-exploration handling of germplasm Realistic budget Qualifications of explorers

19. Review and Funding of Proposals proposals reviewed by PEO and a committee composed of NPGS scientists and Regional Technical Committee Reps recommendations on funding made by PEO to the ARS National Program Staff notifications of awards usually made in December

20. Out-of-cycle Funding funding sometimes becomes available mid – year explorations for domestic exploration are lower budget and can often be accommodated foreign explorations can sometimes be supported full proposals and endorsements required

21. The Curator’s Role in the Plant Exploration/Exchange Program identification of collection needs communication of needs to CGC and PEO development of proposals input into proposals prepared by others feedback to PEO on explorations

22. Conducting the exploration timing length wild vs. cultivated collecting strategies NPGS Code of Conduct good cooperation with host is key lays the groundwork for future collaboration Apple exploration, Kazakhstan 1993

23. Documentation of Collections passport data (individualized for each exploration) latitudes/longitudes (plus datum) using GPS receiver altitude (with altimeter) other required fields unique collector identification numbers (Ex: PAR05-1 for 2005 Paraguay exploration) herbarium voucher specimens reports

24. Invasive Species Considerations Balance between conservation of entire genepoolsand invasive species control collectors should exercise caution on taxa that appear weedy, communicate concerns to curator Federal noxious weed list (permits required) State noxious weed lists Does the NPGS need a code of conduct?

25. PEO Instructions for Plant Collectors Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Protocol (most germplasm goes to Beltsville for inspection) Obtain original phytosanitary certificate from donor country (required by APHIS) Clean, package, and label all collections carefully Importation of germplasm

26. 37-2100 phytosanitary certificate necessary 63001 (no phytosanitary certificate, limited to 50 accessions, <50 seeds/accession, emergency use only with approval of PEO) Permits for importing admissible germplasm

27. Departmental Permit for Prohibited materials Post-entry – materials that must be inspected by State/APHIS during growing season Noxious weeds – plants on the Federal Noxious Weeds list APHIS Permits for importing germplasm requiring special handling

28. Multiple permits required: -- export permit from the country of origin -- import permit from the FWS -- import permit from APHIS for CITES- regulated plants Information: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/pubs/fsheet_faq_ notice/fs_phcites.html CITES – protected plants

29. cooperation with APHIS Plant Germplasm Quarantine Program (Joe Foster, joseph.a.foster@aphis.usda.gov) Plant Health Program undergoing reorganization vacant positions (Prunus, Malus, etc.) quota system continues some unexpected importations will be accepted Germplasm Requiring Quarantine (Beltsville)

30. Plant Exploration Tracking System (PETS) part of the GRIN database documents germplasm collected on explorations basic passport data (collector id, taxon, country, latitude,longitude) tracks when accession data is added by the sites allows production of reports on accessions from plant exploration

31. International Issues Access to Plant Genetic Resources Ukraine 1999

32. Before 1993 – Free and Open Access to Plant Genetic Resources Fruits and nuts Pakistan 1987

33. Peanut landraces Ecuador 1995 Since 1993 – Increasing restrictions on Access to Plant Genetic Resources national access to genetic resources is closely controlled in many countries access not possible at all in some countries

34. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) access must be associated with agreement on the sharing of benefits national governments control access to genetic resources (“prior informed consent”) *See CBD website: www.biodiv.org

35. Access for International Plant Explorations Access is based on “prior informed consent” of the host country national government Obtained in all countries that are parties to the CBD – even those without national legislation (from the CBD focal point or their designee)* Includes agreement on sharing of monetary and non-monetary benefits

36. Obtaining Access for NPGS Foreign Plant Explorations PEO obtains permission for most foreign explorations Permission often must be negotiated Multi-year permissions can sometimes be included in general agreements Delays in explorations are possible

37. Access to Plant Genetic Resources for NPGS Plant Explorations 1993 - 2005

38. Traditional Host Country Benefits Associated with NPGS Plant Explorations sharing collected germplasm paying exploration expenses strengthening of professional ties transfer of information and technology collaboration in publication of research results Kazakhstan, 2000

39. Additional Benefit Sharing Associated with NPGS Plant Explorations non-monetary “in-kind” benefits increases the capacity of host country to conserve PGR determined in close consultation with host country partners

40. Examples of Additional Benefit Sharing Associated with NPGS Plant Explorations Peanut characterization Paraguay 2003

41. Update on Germplasm Collecting in China The last NPGS exploration in China was in 2000 2003 Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) Decree No. 30 : MOA controls germplasm collection by foreigners 2005 Application to MOA for a grass exploration rejected 2005 Annex to a USDA agreement on Cooperation in Agricultural Science and Technology with the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST)

42. Germplasm Collecting in the United States Regulatory Considerations not directly related to CBD issues no national authority on access Legally protected species specific permission to collect required Property rights permission of property owner or managing agency required State rules apply

43. Germplasm Collecting in The United States Legally Protected Species Federally listed Endangered and threatened species Permits issued by the US Fish & Wildlife Service http://www.fws.gov/endangered/permits/ (permits require 60 days) State listed Endangered, threatened, commercially exploited, etc.

44. Plant Collecting in The United States Property Rights Issues (Landowners) Federal government USDA Forest Service (National Forests) National Park Service Bureau of Land Management National Wildlife Refuges US Military Bases State government State parks State forests Etc. Tribal governments Transportation Corridor Right of Ways Private (individuals, Nature Conservancy, etc.)

45. Plant Collecting in The United States Resources for permit information U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service http://www.fws.gov/endangered/permits/index.html State Agencies (Departments of Natural Resources, Agriculture, etc.) http://www.fws.gov/offices/statelinks.html Natural Heritage Programs and CDCs (Nature Serve Network) http://www.natureserve.org/visitLocal/memberprogramaddress1203.pdf

46. Germplasm Exchange increasing restrictions resulting from the CBD NPGS adheres to the principle of free exchange -- no one can claim ownership over NPGS material “in the form received” -- germplasm can be distributed to third parties -- no restrictions on use -- can be commercialized -- further permission from original donor not required for any purpose

47. Material Transfer Agreements Problem terms limitations on use limitations on distribution to third parties limitations on commercialization requirement to notify donor of distributions

48. Material Transfer Agreements Proposed Review Protocol* curators receive MTAs send to Technology Transfer Coordinators (TTCs) for review questions first referred to the Plant Exchange Office unresolved questions referred to the National Program Leader TTC negotiates changes with donor, when necessary Research Leader and TTC sign * protocol needs approval by the ARS Administrator

49. FAO International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture Objectives are conservation, sustainable use, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits Multilateral system for access to ex situ germplasm collections and benefit sharing Adopted by FAO in Nov 2001 Became international law June 29, 2004 Possible Future Legal Framework For Access to some PGR

50. FAO International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture Covers 35 food crops (not peanut, soybean, others) Covers some forage legumes and grasses Access will be covered by a standard MTA (under negotiation) Uncertainty whether U.S. will ratify http://www.fao.org/ag/cgrfa/itpgr.htm

51. The Plant Exchange Office Facilitating Collaboration International exploration identifying cooperators establishing cooperative projects leveraging other sources of funds Domestic activities (exploration and in situ conservation) Park Service Forest Service Links to other germplasm collections Associate Collections (policy approved by PGOC, needs NPS approval)

52. PEO Collaborations Associated with Plant Explorations ICARDA/Central Asia and Caucasus Georgia Paraguay U.S. Food Aid Programs in collaboration with USDA/FAS – Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Ecuador, Sri Lanka Office of International Research Programs (Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, Palestine, Israel) Bangladesh 2002

53. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Support for plant exploration GIS tools have potential to assist explorers wild species difficult to locate, distributions not well known time in the field and funds are limited suitable habitats diminishing

54. Floramap Climatic Prediction of Distribution Suitable Habitat: Forest Margins Accessible areas GIS Layers to Support Collection of Capsicum flexuosum In Paraguay

55. Final Priority Areas for Collecting Capsicum flexuosum in Paraguay Results: Five new populations found, one outside the previously know range. Reference: Jarvis et al. 2005. GRACE 52: 671 – 682

56. Future plans for research on use of GIS to guide plant explorations USDA - FAS grant in cooperation with IPGRI exploration for 3 species in Paraguay PEO/IPGRI project in Guatemala Capsicum lanceolatum

57. Plant Exchange Office Other Research Projects Guidelines for sampling genetic diversity (cooperation with NCGRP) Crop wild relative inventories (Bolivia, Guatemala, Paraguay)

58. Curator’s Resource Documents 2007 Plant exploration proposal guidelines 2007 Plant exchange proposal guidelines 2005 ASHS article on the Plant Exploration Program Summary of NPGS explorations over the past 10 years Instructions for plant explorers on importing germplasm Basic Import/Export Information for NPGS Curators Import Permit No. 37-2100 Information sheet on review of Material Transfer Agreements

59. Thank you!