State of PGR in Trinidad and Tobago. Albada Beekham Research Division Ministry of Food Production

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1 State of PGR in Trinidad and Tobago Albada Beekham Research Division Ministry of Food Production

2 Collections in the Country Ministry of Food Production- University West Indies (St. Augustine) University of Trinidad and Tobago- Rice, Sugar cane (16 accessions) Private plant producers, farmers CARDI-T&T A.Beekham Ministry of Food Production - Trinidad & Tobago

3 Objectives of the collection To conserve, characterize/evaluation and store for present and future use To supply other divisions in the Ministry responsible for multiplication To supply farmers Encourage farmers to conserve local crop diversity A.Beekham Ministry of Food Production - Trinidad & Tobago

4 State of Conservation- Vegetables Crop # of accessions Crop # of accessions Bodi 19 Pepper 40 Cucurbits 15 Pigeon pea 12 Corn 8 Seim 17 Jack Bean 2 Sorrel 5 Lima Bean 2 Tomato 3 Melongene 1 Urdi accession of vegetables Mung Bean 1 Winged bean 1 Ochro 13 Yam beam 6

5 State of Conservation- Fruits Crop # Accessions Mango 25 Citrus 21 Banana 13 Plantain 4 Carambola 6 Gauva 10 Cashew 5 Coconut 5 Avocado 2 Tamarind 15 Minor fruits 50

6 State of Conservation- Root Crops Crop # of accession Sweet potato 54 Cassava 44 Yam 38 Dasheen and eddoes 2 Minor root crops 6

7 State of Conservation- Herbs and Spices Crop Medicinal plants 48 # of accession Herbs and spices 38

8 State of Conservation- Cocoa Crop # of accessions Trinidad Selected Hybrid 200 Trinidad Selected Amazonia- 5 Other Imperial College 20 International 19 Coffee 5

9 University of the West Indies- T&T Crop Sweet potato # of accessions 77 Cassava 42 Yam 30 Breadfruit 34 Hot Pepper 260 Cocoa 2400 International Genebank Fruit 52 Banana 16 Jackfruit 2 Chataigne 1 Reference: 1) Trinidad and Tobago 2 nd Country Report on PGR compiled in ) Accessed 9:30am 8/10/12

10 EMA given the mandate to update the National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan - UWI contracted to compile report Chapter on Agrobiodiversity A.Beekham Ministry of Food Production - Trinidad & Tobago

11 Method of conservation Field Seed Tissue culture

12 Projects-MFP Collection and conservation of Underutilized crops Evaluation of locally grown corn varieties Evaluation of 21 accessions of bird pepper Development of an improved Crapaud back variety of pumpkin for the local market Evaluation of 2 year round varieties of Pigeon pea (UW2-6-3, UW2-5-5) Evaluation of 2 year round varieties of Blackeye (UW34, UW38) Evaluation of 10 varieties of cassava from Colombia Safety duplication of 15 varieties of sweet potato at CIP Developing a protocol for germination testing of Shado beni (Erygium foetidum) Characterization of 11 accessions Dolichos sp Characterization of 6 varieties of Hibiscus sabdariffa

13 Climate readiness UWI (St Augustine)- Funding recently approved for Climate change projects on : 1) Heat tolerance in Tomato 2) Drought and waterlogging impacts on Cocoa Public Sector Investment Programme- Implementing a Comprehensive Crop Biodiversity Conservation Programme for T&T - Construction of Conservation centre - Conservation of minor fruit (museum) - Collection, characterization, - Ex- situ conservation - In-situ conservation of Farmers collection - Database development - Maintenance of genebank and facilities - Public awareness programme

14 Party to treaty and conventions ITPGRFA- acceded Oct 2004 CBD-ratified 1 st August 1996 UPOV-1978 (11 TSH varieties protected) International Plant Protection Convention Plant Protection Act- 13 of 1975 TRIPS/WTO Cartegena Protocol on biosafety acceded 5 th Oct 2000

15 Policy mechanisms for sharing and use Draft Material Transfer Agreement based on SMTA of the International Treaty on PGR National Biosafety Policy drafted- (managing risks associated with modern biotechnology by providing a transparent and safe environment for development and use) Sharing and exchange issues (locally and internationally)

16 Are objectives being met? Support to the Ministry s Action Plan (evaluation of Corn varieties, root crops) Research division has supplied seeds/planting material of improved varieties for commercial multiplication and distribution (pumpkin (CES STARZ), seim, sorrel) A.Beekham Ministry of Food Production - Trinidad & Tobago

17 Needs National policy on PGR with specific strategies and actions Comprehensive inventory of germplasm in T&T Software for compiling a database (GRIN Global) and training in use Assistance in design of Conservation Centre (inclusive of staff needs, equipment) Dedicated staff, land infrastructure and funding for PGR activities Training in PGR management, climate change strategies Legal assistance (Material Transfer Agreement) exchange from foreign private and public institutions, or from local institutions working in partnership with foreign research interests

18 Thank You A.Beekham Ministry of Food Production - Trinidad & Tobago