Global Crop Diversity Trust
 |
|
| Founded | 2004 |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-profit NGO |
| Focus | Biodiversity activism |
| Headquarters | Bonn, Germany |
|
Area served
|
Worldwide |
| Product | Non profit crop diversity advocacy |
|
Key people
|
Åslaug Haga (Executive Director) |
| Mission | Ensure the conservation and availability of crop diversity for food security worldwide. |
| Website | croptrust.org |
The Crop Trust, formerly known as the Global Crop Diversity Trust, is an international nonprofit organization which works to preserve crop diversity in order to protect global food security. It was established through a partnership between the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research acting through Bioversity International.
In 2006, the Crop Trust entered into an agreement with the governing body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The agreement recognises the Crop Trust as an "essential element" of the treaty's funding strategy in regards to the ex situ conservation and availability of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. It also confirms the autonomy of the Crop Trust as a scientific organization in raising and disbursing funds.
The Crop Trust is assembling an endowment fund, the income from which will be used to support the conservation of distinct and important crop diversity, in perpetuity, through existing institutions. Crop diversity is the biological foundation of agriculture, and is the raw material plant breeders and farmers use to adapt crop varieties to pests and diseases. In the future, this crop diversity will play a central role in helping agriculture adjust to climate change and adapt to water and energy constraints.
The Crop Trust has its offices in Bonn, Germany, after relocating there from Rome, Italy. The executive board is chaired by Ambassador Walter Fust (Switzerland) and the Vice-Chair is Tim Fischer (Australia). The Crop Trust Trust also has a Donors' Council, chaired by Jaap Satter (Netherlands). As of May 2016 the organization had raised approximately US$300 million for its endowment. Main donors include: Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (Australia). A number of developing countries have also provided support, including Egypt, Ethiopia and India. Further contributions have been received from private corporations, foundations, industry associations, and from private individuals.
...
Wikipedia