Plant breeders were the first to recognise the need for conservation and maintenance of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA). They created the first genebanks in the 1930s. In 1996, the International Association of Plant Breeders (ASSINSEL) carried out a survey showing that 88% of plant breeding companies maintained PGRFA and that, on average, plant breeding companies spent 5% of their research budget on conserving genetic resources, i.e. approximately US$ 50 million each year (see www.worldseed.org).

In 2001, ASSINSEL carried out a similar survey of its members' activities in PGRFA conservation, characterization and evaluation to update the results of 1996. The synthesis of information received from 63 plant breeding companies in 14 countries is presented below.

The survey shows that ASSINSEL members spend on average 5.1% of their research budget on maintaining internal genebanks, and 5.8% of their
research budget for the characterization and evaluation of PGRFA held in their genebanks. If we consider that the global turnover of seed companies with research/plant breeding activities is about US$ 20 billion, and that they spend 8% of their turnover on research, their total research budget can be estimated at approximately US$ 1.6 billion, and their total budget for conservation, characterization and evaluation of germplasm is about US$ 170 million.

These activities of ASSINSEL members are a substantial in kind contribution to the global effort aimed at fostering conservation, characterization, evaluation and sustainable use of PGRFA. The amount invested by plant breeders in the maintenance of their internal genebanks is equivalent to the annual budget required to implement the Global Plan of Action for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of PGRFA (adopted in Leipzig, 1996), estimated by FAO to lie between US$ 150 and 455 million.

A significant part of the aforementioned US$ 170 million is used to maintain improved breeding lines. However, the survey also shows that more than 80% of ASSINSEL members also maintain obsolete varieties, about two thirds conserve landraces, while more than half maintain wild relatives in their genebanks.

Many breeding companies have also developed collaborative activities with national and/or international programs. About two thirds of the respondents assist national programs in maintaining PGRFA, either technically or financially, and one third provide assistance to international programs.

Technology transfer relating to the maintenance of PGRFA is also an important commitment for many ASSINSEL members. While some members are based in developing countries, others have breeding programs in these countries and also conduct training programs there. In more than 40% of the cases, members grant licenses free of charge to developing countries. Finally, some companies also participate in international programs for technology transfer.

These figures confirm the results of the 1996 survey, and show that plant breeders are strongly committed to the conservation, characterization and evaluation of PGRFA. ISF, Chemin du Reposoir 5-7, 11260 Nyon, Switzerland; Fax: ++41-22-365 44 21; E-mail: fis@worldseed.org; Website: http:// www.worldseed.org (Note: FIS and ASSISSEL merged to form ISF in May 2002).