Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture

Indigenous populations

Workshop on Management & Use of Plant Genetic Resources by Indigenous Groups

Tiempo de lectura: 3 mins.

Taking place on the heels of the news that the Government of Canada will remove its permanent objector status to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the workshop jointly hosted by PROCINORTE/NORGEN Task Force, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the University of Laval, was very timely.

Quebec City, Canada. The meeting which took place in Quebec City, had active participation of First Nations communities in Canada as well as researchers who have worked with indigenous groups in North and Central America. It was interesting to note that although the 3 countries had varying levels of commitment to the relevant international agreements, there were common challenges and features which could benefit from shared approaches. This was reinforced by the Legal Research Chair in Food Diversity and Security of Laval University, Dr. Genevieve Parent, who pointed to the provisions of the fair access and equitable benefit sharing clauses in the 3 main international instruments governing plant genetic resources.

The meeting was a huge success in that it presented a space for dialogue and the sharing of research, strategies, practices by stakeholders involved in conservation and utilization of diversity in crops plants, with particular emphasis on crops relevant for indigenous agriculture in the USA, Mexico and Canada. The workshop’s objectives included:

  • To increase understanding of the status and of the importance of indigenous plant genetic resources for food security.
  • To present the Canadian Three Sisters project and share Canadian, Mexican and American experiences in conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources.

Mme. Linda Collette, former Secretary of the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources ably moderated the sessions which included scientific researchers from national Governments, legal specialists, and indigenous groups. Several valuable recommendations were made, among which was for indigenous groups in the 3 countries to share their practices and to continue research & development activities in collaboration with the government bodies, with transparency and mutual respect.

NORGEN is one of PROCINORTE’s 4 Task Forces supported by IICA. The workshop was an activity undertaken as part of its 2016 work plan in meeting its stated objectives.

Participants of the PROCINORTE – NORGEN Workshop on Conservation and Development of Ancestral/Indigenous Plant Genetic Resources: Challenges, Tools and Perspectives

Share

Related news​

En el diálogo el Director General del IICA, Manuel Otero, instó a las personas jóvenes a ser agentes de cambio, jerarquizar la agricultura y fortalecer la autoestima del sector agropecuario, por su rol clave para el desarrollo sostenible de los países de la región.

San José, Costa Rica

October 24, 2025

Youth are key to driving the transformation of agriculture across the hemisphere, says IICA Director General at a meeting with participants of the AgriTalent Program of the Americas

Manuel Otero emphasized the need to promote a new narrative for regional agriculture—one that elevates its standing and recognizes its contribution to the food security of the countries.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

El Presidente chileno, Gabriel Boric, durante la X Semana de la Energía que transcurrió en Santiago.

Santiago

October 23, 2025

IICA and the CPBIO highlight the strategic role of agriculture and biofuels at the Tenth Energy Week in Chile

Organized by the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE), the participants in the event included His Excellency the President of Chile, Gabriel Boric. The discussions focused on the technical, economic and regulatory challenges involved in accelerating the decarbonization of transportation in the Americas, especially in the aviation sector.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

Diapositiva con el título ‘Conclusiones clave’ a la izquierda y cuatro mensajes en recuadros de colores: ‘SAIA moderno = sistema agroalimentario resiliente’, ‘Cooperación público-privada es clave’, ‘Tecnología transforma la gestión sanitaria’ e ‘Invertir hoy asegura el futuro’. A la derecha, dos personas en traje formal sentadas en entornos profesionales.

San José, Costa Rica

October 23, 2025

IICA presents the updated PVS, a key tool to strengthen countries’ agricultural health services and ensure safe food trade

The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) has unveiled the updated version of a key tool designed to modernize and strengthen agricultural health and food safety services across the Americas—an initiative aimed at safeguarding the region’s sanitary and phytosanitary status, ensuring safe food trade, protecting public health, preventing economic losses and driving rural development.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins