In the Lao People's Democratic Republic the Rice Biodiversity Project was approved for on farm conservation of rice germ plasm.

The need for a diverse genetic pool of plant, animal and microbial germ plasm for sustainable development is well established.

This may be done through the development of new techniques for reforestation and afforestation, germ plasm conservation and the cultivation of new plant varieties.

13. Moreover, FAO, together with SELA, is establishing a framework for cooperation under the regional programme on vegetal germ plasm and the biotechnology and food security projects.

Feasibility studies on a possible reference pedological facility for soil, plant and water as well as a reference herbarium tissue culture and germ plasm conservation facility were started in 1995.

41. One of the priorities of the Institute in 1997 was to determine whether UNU INRA should set up a new tissue culture and germ plasm conservation facility or if it should support upgrading the existing one at the University of Ghana.