Manjit Misra, NGRAC Chair Iowa State University Stephen Smith, Dupont Pioneer

1. Update from the National Genetics Resource Advisory Council (NGRAC) to ASTA Organic Seed Committee Meeting, Dec 8, 2014 Manjit Misra, NGRAC Chair Iowa State University Stephen Smith, Dupont Pioneer

2. What We Do • NGRAC is a subcommittee of NAREEE • Advise the Secretary of Agriculture and Director of the National Genetic Resources Program (NGRP) on the activities, policies, and operation of NGRP. • Scope includes acquisition, preservation, access, evaluation, characterization, distribution, and exchange of genetic resources of life forms important to American agriculture; plants, forest species, animals, aquatics, insects, and microbes.

3. What We Do • NGRAC shall make recommendations to ensure that these essential resources are adequately conserved and appropriately accessible in order to address current and future agricultural needs. • NGRAC is also to advise on research needs for genetic resources, on coordination of NGRP with similar domestic activities, and on policies–both international and domestic–regarding access and exchange of genetic resources for the public’s benefit.

4. Who We Are Appointed Members Manjit Misra (Chair), Seed Science Center, Iowa State University Jane Dever, Texas AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University Matthew Dillon, Clif Bar Family Foundation on Food & Farming Initiatives, Seed Matters Karen Moldenhauer, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Rice Research & Extension Center Stephen Smith, DuPont Pioneer Allison Snow, Ohio State University Herman Warren, Warren & Associates Seeds Terry Williams, Tulalip Tribes Natural Resources Dept. Mulumebet Worku, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University Ex-Officio Members Peter Bretting, National Program Leader, USDA – ARS Catherine Woteki, Under Secretary, USDA Seven other distinguished members

5. First Meeting March 5 – 6, 2013, Wash DC • Discussed AC21 Recommendations • Identified Major Issues in Plant Genetic Resources • Matching decreasing capacity with increasing demand for plant genetic resources/information • Budgets are static or decreasing, Cost is increasing, Size of collections and demand is increasing, Differential sets (aka pathogens and genomic data), Succession management • International genetic resource access and exchange • Treaties, Phytosanitary certificate cost, Threatened Crop Wild Relatives and Wild Species, Current exchange mechanisms (initially referenced in relation to animal genetic resources), FAO Global Plan of Action — Biodiversity Laws — CBD • Cross-cutting topics • Intellectual property rights, Genetically-engineered germplasm resources, Organic seed supply, Climate change (adaptation), Genetic uniformity and vulnerability, Documenting and communicating impact of genetic resources, Tribal germplasm interests. Public genetic resource distribution and exchange

6. Second Meeting Sept 25 – 26, 2013, Fort Collins, CO • Highlights of the NGRAC Recommendations • Develop a seed access plan • Include a broader group of stakeholders and rights-holders (such as tribes) in the agricultural value chain—including agricultural producers, food processors, and public plant breeders. • Encourage NASS and ERS to better assess needs of all farmers regarding accessibility of non-genetically engineered (GE) and organic seed. • USDA should recommit to maintaining the original genetic identity of accessions in its germplasm banks. • The NGRAC supports USDA continuing to develop a robust process for detecting, monitoring, mitigating, and communicating the unintentional presence of transgenes in public germplasm. • Frequency of regeneration should be reduced by storing plant germplasm under optimal conditions and developing non-destructive viability testing . • Other Recommendations • Strongly encourages the Secretary of Agriculture to seek ratification of the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture by the U.S. Senate.

7. Third Meeting Sept 23 – 25, 2014, Ames, Iowa • Invited speakers • Charles Brown, Chair, organic committee, ASTA • Catherine Greene (ERS, USDA) • Wallace Huffman (ISU Economist) • Leslie Wheelock (USDA, Tribal Relations) • Peter Bretting (USDA/ARS) • Catherine Woteki (USDA/REE) • Response to AC 21 Recommendations • Provide guidance to USDA on how the Agency should work with stakeholders (to include public and private seed breeders, producers and distributors, as well as end-users and tribal governments) to ensure the ongoing availability of an adequate pool of appropriate germplasm for the breeding of organic, non-GE and GE crops. • Adopted a systems approach that identified the principal players, problems, solutions, and recommendations at different stages of the seed development process:

8. Third Meeting (Continued) Sept 23 – 25, 2014, Ames, Iowa • Steps in seed development • Uncharacterized germplasm for breeding • Characterized germplasm • New lines and hybrids in appropriate forms • Seed for farmers • Harvested products for processors and consumers • Crops with GE varieties widely grown in the US • At least eight major crops • Corn • Soybeans • Cotton • Canola • Alfalfa • Sugar beets • Papaya • Squash

9. Third Meeting (Continued) Sept 23 – 25, 2014, Ames, Iowa

10. Third Meeting (Continued) Sept 23 – 25, 2014, Ames, Iowa • Other recommendations: • Increase succession planning for plant breeders • Assessment of Bayh-Dole impacts • Where relevant and appropriate, genetic diversity in crop wild relatives should be collected and maintained. • It is to everyone’s advantage that the traits are where they should be. • Reputation • Maintaining global grain trade • The testing methodologies will always be developed so that it is important they are widely available and cost-effective for the benefit of the entire crop breeding sector and NPGS is not restricted in its abilities to undertake core activities.

11. Third Meeting (Continued) Sept 23 – 25, 2014, Ames, Iowa • Other Recommendations (Continued) • The NPGS collection is not fully characterized and includes no proprietary lines. Characterization and evaluation are two areas where the USDA budget is stressed and need to be increased so • that NPGS is not restricted in its abilities to undertake core activities. • The NPGS collection is strong but not complete; are additional lines available through international collaborations? Granted that the NPGS collections are intended for researchers, educators and breeders, could they also make germplasm available to unconventional, small-scale breeders and “hobbyists” through a third-party clearinghouse? • Strongly encourages the Secretary of Agriculture to seek ratification of the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture by the U.S. Senate.

12. In the future, focus on: The value of genetic resources and communicating the value to all stakeholders, and Envision issues that could potentially arise 50 years into future. National Genetics Resource Advisory Council (NGRAC) Thank you! Questions?