Author : Malicsi, Lorna C.

Summary : Plant or perish. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), as cited by ehe World's Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA), reports a substantial loss in diversity of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. In the same document, Germany is cited to have experienced a 75% loss in cultivated plants in agriculture and horticulture. The livestock world is no different. Says FAO, at present, livestock breeds currently face a worldwide 28% risk of extinction.

Genetic resources need not perish. Because the goal of agrobiodiversity is to provide a rich genetic pool from traditional/indigenous crops that have high resistance to diseases, high poor soil, and water tolerance, some current works are being done by various organizations.