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December 2019 Meeting Summary

On December 13, 2019, the Advisory Committee held a teleconference to review the state of Genesys and address critical questions about its governance, funding, and strategic direction. This meeting marked a turning point as we began to look beyond short-term projects toward long-term sustainability.

Ensuring Long-Term Sustainability​

A major theme of the discussion was the need for stable governance and funding. At the time, Genesys was heavily reliant on CGIAR-related platforms. The Committee emphasized that to truly serve the global community, Genesys must transition to a more sustainable funding model that doesn't depend on the lifespan of specific projects.

Clarifying Our Place in the Ecosystem​

We also discussed the importance of clearly defining the "Genesys mission" within the broader landscape of PGRFA databases. With other systems like FAO WIEWS and the ITPGRFA GLIS, we recognized the need to explicitly state what makes Genesys unique and how it complements these other essential services. This conversation laid the groundwork for the Vision and Mission documents that were developed in early 2020.

Expanding our Reach​

The team identified several key genebanks to re-engage and bring back into the fold, including those in India (NBPGR), South Korea (RDA), and Japan, as well as updating our collaboration with the USDA. We also brainstormed how Genesys could evolve, potentially serving as a foundation for genebanks to build their own branded websites while sourcing data from our platform.

Committee Transitions​

This meeting saw some important changes in leadership and membership:

  • Theo van Hintum (CGN) was elected as the Chair of the Advisory Committee.
  • We accepted the resignations of Robert Hijmans and Graham McLaren.
  • The Committee identified the need for new expertise, suggesting candidates from the USDA and NBPGR (India) to refresh the group's perspective.

Our Community​

A thank you to the members who joined the call:

  • Theo van Hintum (CGN)
  • Luciano Nass (Embrapa)
  • Peter Wenzl (CIAT)
  • Francisco Lopez (ITPGRFA, FAO)
  • Luigi Guarino (Crop Trust)
  • Matija Obreza (Crop Trust)

We ended the year with a clear mandate: define our vision, secure our future, and continue expanding the global network of data providers.