The paper discusses possible approaches to promote partnerships in the area of underutilized species/minor crops. IPGRI has several years of experience in this domain, involving a variety of stakeholders, sharing efforts in addressing the better conservation and use of these species across regions and focusing on issues ranging from domestication, market potential to documentation and networking.

The concept of the Crucible II Project was initially endorsed in Uppsala, Sweden, in 1998, by a
diverse assembly of people with backgrounds in northern and southern private industry, government,
civil society organizations, indigenous peoples organizations, universities, multilateral institutions,
universities and the CGIAR.1 Based on their own experiences, these people felt it would be useful to
sponsor a series of informal meetings between representatives of key ¿stakeholder¿ positions in the

This concept paper, prepared for presentation and discussion at the GFAR Conference in Dresden,
Germany, May 21-23, 2000, aims to highlight key issues that affect the conservation and use of plant
genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA), review the activities that have taken place to
date in the GFAR Initiative on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, outline planned activities
and suggest partnership proposals. It is hoped that this paper can assist in developing common

One of the five priority areas identified by the GFAR Steering Committee was
defined as ¿ Emergence of Global Networks in Commodity Chains¿. This line of action
refers to many crops that are not currently fully covered by the CGIAR-mandate, but are
very important to humankind, especially for many small growers in agricultural farming
systems. Some of these crops are essential for direct contributions to food security at both
local and regional levels, while others also play a significant role in poverty alleviation and

Sub-Plenary 4: Policy management & institutional development

Mainstream agricultural research has focused primarily on technical and biological aspects
and is aimed at controlling or manipulating nature through the use of external inputs, such as
agricultural chemicals or super seed. In developing countries, the results of this research have
benefited some resource-rich farmers in well-endowed areas, were suitable to only a limited
extent for poorer farmers in the more favourable areas, and were ¿ in most cases ¿ completely

We live in a world of dramatic change, be it with regard to political concepts,
understanding of ¿Good Governance¿, the role and understanding of technology or other
determinants of our life. Part and result of that are changing ideas about the state¿s role
in sustainable development. Different ideas about what the state is best capable to do led
to critical choices about what to do and what not to do ¿ and this had practical
consequences. In addition, the value of macroeconomic stability and fiscal discipline for

"Biotechnology is a new area of science and one where developing countries¿ National
Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) are particularly weak. In all areas of research, GFAR
can help NARS to establish partnerships, by facilitating access to information and by