In order to accelerate the implementation of the Multilateral System (MLS), it is important that policy makers and gene bank managers in Asian countries are fully aware of their obligations under the Treaty and understand how the MLS functions and how they can contribute to and derive benefit from this system. It is also important to support Asian developing nations in building adequate technical and legal capacity to identify, inventory, and notify their collections to the MLS so that they can be easily accessed.
To address these challenges, FAO undertook the regional project “Enhancing understanding and implementation of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in Asia” (GCP/RAS/284/JPN) with funding support from the Government of Japan. The participating countries in the project are Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, India, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.