USDA Peanut Germplasm and the International Treaties

The USDA peanut germplasm collection was assembled over eight decades and is securely managed at the National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) genebank in Griffin, GA, with a back-up collection at the National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation (NLGRP) in Fort Collins, CO. This germplasm is regularly requested by researchers within the US and across the globe for research use. The collection contains about 9,000 cultivated species accessions and 600 wild species accessions. It is considered a national treasure and has contributed to the development of several important peanut cultivars in the US. The germplasm collection is a testimony to the vision and dedication of several prominent national and international collectors with funding support from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR), UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and logistic support from the host countries. Substantial support was also provided to the different collectors from their respective institutions/agencies. Germplasm accessions collected were freely shared among the collaborative parties until the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) came into force in December 1993 to restrict the free exchange. Additionally, the exclusion of peanut from the Annex 1 list of crops of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (also known as Plant Treaty) practically shut the door for new germplasm access from South America. These two events combined with other human activities such as cattle ranching and urbanization are endangering native populations in South America with irreparable loss of valuable peanut genetic diversity.