"Besides the widely acknowledged drawbacks of GMCs: a) the spread of
transgenes to related weeds or conspecifics via crop-weed hybridization and, b)the rapid
evolution of resistance of insect pests such as Lepidoptera to Bt, the workshop was
concerned about the overall ecological implications of other more subtle effects that

"[...] the GFAR-SC approved in October of 1999 the GFAR Initiative in Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (GRFA), to be carried out in close consultation with IPGRI and with FAO. There is a strong rationale for the choice of a GRFA initiative at this time. Although the importance of GRFA is well recognized by all GFAR stakeholders, the negotiation and implementation of global agreements (including the CBD, WTO and the FAO International Undertaking on Plant genetic Resources), coupled with recent

The main objectives of the workshop were as follows: (i) to develop operational principles and
approaches for innovative public-private research partnerships; and (ii) to review partnership
proposals on rice genomics and on impact research addressing the benefits and risks of
genetically modified (GM) crops.

The theme of the Second Triennial GFAR Conference held in Dakar, Senegal, 22nd to 24th of May, 2003
(GFAR 2003) was ¿Linking Research and Rural Innovation to Sustainable Development¿. It was a very
appropriate theme given the current global focus and attention on sustainable development issues as well
as increased research interest in innovation processes. The goal of the conference was to review
achievements and take stock of lessons learned during the current triennium (2000-2003), identify new and

List of participants