Today, access to food around the world is not secure and 800 million people are undernourished.

In the next 30 years, the world’s population is expected to reach 8 500 million.

Reliable and sustainable improvements in yield are needed to meet the demands of this population growth.

The conservation and sustainable utilization of plant genetic resources is key to improving agricultural productivity and sustainability, thereby contributing to national development, food security and the relief of poverty.