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The benefits of collaborating on genetic resources conservation and use have brought many countries together in partnership over the years. Bioversity has worked worldwide to develop networks that link the plant genetic resources activities of national programmes, research institutes and others.
Networks listed by region:
Americas
Asia, Pacific and Oceania
Europe
Central and West Asia and North Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Networks listed by crop:
Banana and plantain
Other crops
Forest genetic resources
Americas
In partnership with Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Tropical Agriculture Research and Higher Learning Center (CATIE) and Caribbean Agricultural Research & Development Institute (CARDI), Bioversity has worked for nearly a decade to stimulate the development of six plant genetic resources networks in the Americas region and foster a sense of ownership of the networks among member countries.
Andean Plant Genetic Resources Network (REDARFIT) REDARFIT's country members are Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. It operates under the aegis of El Programa Cooperativo De Innovación Tecnológica Agropecuaria Para La Región Andina (PROCIANDINO).
Mesoamerican Network on Plant Genetic Resources (REMERFI) REMERFI's purpose is to improve the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources by strengthening national plant genetic systems and coordinating implementation of actions at the national and Mesoamerican levels.
Amazonian Network on Plant Genetic Resources (TROPIGEN) TROPIGEN country members are Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela. It operates under the aegis of the Programa Cooperativo de Investigación, Desarollo e Innovación Agrícola para los Trópicos Suramericanos (PROCITROPICOS).
Programa Cooperativo para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Agropecuario del Cono Sur ( PROCISUR) PROCISUR was launched in 1990 with the signing of a technical cooperation agreement among the countries of South America’s southern cone, which were represented by National Agricultural Research Institutes and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).
Caribbean Plant Genetic Resources Network (CAPGERNET) CAPGERNET operates under the aegis of Caribbean Agricultural Science and Technology Networking System (PROCICARIBE), the region's Agricultural Science and Technology Networking. It has been designed as an instrument that will provide an institutional framework within which the Caribbean would design and implement strategies for the integration and coordination of agricultural research at the national and regional levels with linkages to international organisations.
Special Task Force on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (NORGEN)
NORGEN was initiated 1999 to develop a focal point for genetic resource programmes within Canada, US and Mexico and to facilitate the exchange of information on genetic resources. It operates under the umbrella of Programa Cooperativo en Investigación y Transferencia de Tecnología Agrícola para la Región Norte (PROCINORTE).
Plantain and Banana Research and Development Network for Latin America and the Caribbean (MUSALAC) The Latin America and the Caribbean Network (LACNET) was established in 1987 and renamed the Plantain and Banana Research and Development Network for Latin America and the Caribbean (MUSALAC) in 2000.
Latin America Forest Genetic Resources Network (LAFORGEN) LAFORGEN aims to connect professionals from different research institutes of several countries in Latin America that are working on forest genetic resources to optimize the efforts in conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources, through research projects focused on shared priority thematic areas of work.
Regional Network for Conservation and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources in East Asia (EA-PGR) EA-PGR was established in 1991. Its members include China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Mongolia.
Regional Co-operation in Southeast Asia for Plant Genetic Resources (RECSEA-PGR)
RECSEA-PGR was set up in December 1993. Membership in RECSEA-PGR is open to countries in Southeast Asia. Current members are Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam.
South Asia Network on Plant Genetic Resources (SANPGR) SANPGR was established in 1990.Six countries in the South Asia region: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka, are members of SANPGR.
Pacific Agricultural Plant Genetic Resources Network (PAPGREN)PAPGREN was set up in September 2001. Members of the network are from Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga And Vanuatu.
Asia Pacific Forest Genetic Resources Programme (APFORGEN) APFORGEN is a programme to increase conservation and sustainable use of tropical forest genetic resources. Bioversity hosts APFORGEN secretariat together with Asia Pacific Association of Forest Research Institutions (APAFRI).
Banana Asia and Pacific Network (BAPNET) The Banana Asia-Pacific Network (ASPNET) was established in 1991 to foster collaborative research on bananas and renamed BAPNET (Banana Asia Pacific network) in 2002. The network includes 13 country members and 2 research institutes.
Buckwheat Network The activities of the buckwheat network in the Asia Pacific region are carried out in collaboration with the International Buckwheat Research Association (IBRA). China, Japan, India, Nepal and Republic of Korea are the countries most actively involved in the network.
Lathyrus Genetic Resources Network (LGRN) Lathyrus is a grain-cum-fodder legume crop suited to marginal areas. It is important in parts of South Asia and the Central and West Asia and the North Africa region. In order to collaborate at the regional level, the Lathyrus Genetic Resources Network (LGRN) was initiated in 1993.
Safflower Network Safflower is a crop used for multi-purposes as oil, medicine and industrial material. Safflower Network is being developed by Bioversity in cooperation with International Safflower Germplasm Advisory Committee (ISGAC) to promote conservation and use of safflower germplasm throughout the world.
Asia Fruit Genetic Resources Network (AFGRN)
AFGRN works to promote cooperation and information sharing among its members to ensure that the genetic diversity of tropical fruit species in the region is conserved and used sustainabley to improve nutrition, reduce poverty and protect the environment.
Central and West Asia and North Africa
The Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa (AARINENA)AARINENA was established in 1985 to strengthen cooperation among national, regional and international research institutions and centres through the dissemination and exchange of information, experiences and research results.
Central Asia and Trans-Caucasus Network on Plant Genetic Resource (CA-TCN/GR)
CA-TCN/GR was established during an international workshop held in Central Asia in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in 1996. Its member countries include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
European Cooperative Programme for Plant Genetic Resources (ECPGR) ECPGR was founded in 1980 on the basis of the recommendations of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Genebank Committee of the European Association for Research on Plant Breeding (EUCARPIA).
The European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN) EUFORGEN is a collaborative mechanism among European countries to promote conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources.
South East European Development Network on Plant Genetic Resources (SEEDNet)Established in 2004, SEEDNet is financially assisted by Sida (the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency). The Swedish Biodiversity Centre (CBM) is the executing agency.
The Genetic Resources Network for West and Central Africa (GRENEWECA)
GRENEWECA was established in 1998 by 24 National Plant Genetic Resources Programmes of West and Central Africa in collaboration with FAO, Bioversity, IITA, WARDA, ICRISAT, and CORAF/WECARD. The network is created under the umbrella of CORAF/WECARD.
East Africa Plant Genetic Resources Network (EAPGREN) EAPGREN was established in November 1997, under the umbrella of The Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA). Bioversity and a number of national plant genetic resources programmes have been working effectively towards the creation of such a network. Member states are Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sudan and Uganda. It is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) with scientific input from Bioversity and the Nordic gene bank.
Southern Africa Development Community Plant Genetic Resources Network The Southern Africa Development Community Plant Genetic Resources Network, based in Lusaka, Zambia, is composed of a regional centre and national centres in member states of the South African Development Community (SADC). Member countries belonging to the Network are Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Sub-Saharan African Forest Genetic Resources (SAFORGEN) SAFORGEN is a voluntary instrument of international co-operation in research and development, which aims at promoting collaboration and catalyzing action among national and regional/sub-regional institutions towards the effective conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources in Sub-Saharan Africa. SAFORGEN operations cover three broad sub-regions in the region: West and Central Africa, Eastern Africa and Southern Africa.
Réseau Musa pour l'Afrique Centrale et Occidentale (MUSACO) MUSACO was founded in 1997, at the invitation of the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD).
Banana Research Network for Eastern and Southern Africa (BARNESA) BARNESA was created in 1994 to encourage cooperation between national research programmes in order to reverse the observed decline in banana production.
Plantain and Banana Research and Development Network for Latin America and the Caribbean (MUSALAC) The Latin America and the Caribbean Network (LACNET) was established in 1987 and renamed the Plantain and Banana Research and Development Network for Latin America and the Caribbean (MUSALAC) in 2000.
Réseau Musa pour l'Afrique Centrale et Occidentale (MUSACO) MUSACO was founded in 1997, at the invitation of the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD).
Banana Research Network for Eastern and Southern Africa (BARNESA) BARNESA was created in 1994 to encourage cooperation between national research programmes in order to reverse the observed decline in banana production.
Banana Asia and Pacific Network (BAPNET) The Banana Asia-Pacific Network (ASPNET) was established in 1991 to foster collaborative research on bananas and renamed BAPNET (Banana Asia Pacific network) in 2002. The network includes 13 country members and 2 research institutes.
Global Musa Genomics Consortium The Global Musa Genomics Consortium is an international network of investigators committed to establishing Musa (banana) as a model crop for studies of comparative genomics and for gene discovery, leading eventually to sequencing of the banana genome and the creation of new banana varieties.
Buckwheat Network The activities of the buckwheat network in the Asia Pacific region are carried out in collaboration with the International Buckwheat Research Association (IBRA). China, Japan, India, Nepal and Republic of Korea are the countries most actively involved in the network.
CacaoNet, the global network for cacao genetic resources CacaoNet works to enhance the value of cacao genetic resources for breeding activities, through effective characterisation, evaluation and pre-breeding efforts. It provides a platform for the coordination and implementation of priority research, breeding and use-related activities to cacao genetic resources.
Coconut Genetic Resources Network (COGENT) COGENT's goal is to improve coconut production on a sustainable basis and increase incomes in developing countries through improved cultivation of the coconut and efficient utilization of its products. COGENT coordinates research activities of national, regional and global significance, particularly in germplasm exploration, collecting, conservation and enhancement through collaboration on the broader aspects of coconut research and development.
International Coffee Genome Network (ICGN) The ICGN is committed to advancing genomic research through international partnerships for sustainable coffee production.
Lathyrus Genetic Resources Network (LGRN) Lathyrus is a grain-cum-fodder legume crop suited to marginal areas. It is important in parts of South Asia and the Central and West Asia and the North Africa region. In order to collaborate at the regional level, the Lathyrus Genetic Resources Network (LGRN) was initiated in 1993.
Safflower Network Safflower is a crop used for multi-purposes as oil, medicine and industrial material. Safflower Network is being developed by Bioversity in cooperation with International Safflower Germplasm Advisory Committee (ISGAC) to promote conservation and use of safflower germplasm throughout the world.
Asia Fruit Genetic Resources Network (AFGRN)
AFGRN works to promote cooperation and information sharing among its members to ensure that the genetic diversity of tropical fruit species in the region is conserved and used sustainabley to improve nutrition, reduce poverty and protect the environment.
Asia Pacific Forest Genetic Resources Programme (APFORGEN) APFORGEN is a programme to increase conservation and sustainable use of tropical forest genetic resources. Bioversity hosts APFORGEN secretariat together with Asia Pacific Association of Forest Research Institutions (APAFRI).
The European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN) EUFORGEN is a collaborative mechanism among European countries to promote conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources.
Latin America Forest Genetic Resources Network (LAFORGEN) LAFORGEN aims to connect professionals from different research institutes of several countries in Latin America that are working on forest genetic resources to optimize the efforts in conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources, through research projects focused on shared priority thematic areas of work.
Sub-Saharan African Forest Genetic Resources (SAFORGEN) SAFORGEN is a voluntary instrument of international co-operation in research and development, which aims at promoting collaboration and catalyzing action among national and regional/sub-regional institutions towards the effective conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources in Sub-Saharan Africa. SAFORGEN operations cover three broad sub-regions in the region: West and Central Africa, Eastern Africa and Southern Africa.