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March 2020 Meeting Summary

On March 6, 2020, the Advisory Committee met to welcome new members and lay the groundwork for the year's activities. It was a session focused on refinement, of our vision, our mission, and our technical approach to data.

Welcoming New Perspectives​

We were delighted to welcome two new members to the Committee: Sunil Archak (NBPGR) and Chris Richards (USDA). Their expertise in biotechnological informatics and population genetics brings valuable new dimensions to our strategic discussions.

The 2020 User Survey​

We shared an update on the 2020 User Survey, which closed on March 2nd with 280 responses. This feedback is critical for us, as we've committed to letting user needs directly shape our priorities and activities for the rest of the year.

Refining the Vision and Mission​

The Committee spent time reviewing the draft Vision and Mission statements. A key point of discussion was the terminology used to describe materials; we are working to ensure our language aligns with the Treaty and is clear to all users, including a shift toward using "breeding material" where appropriate to avoid confusion.

Planning for 2020: Trait Data and Context​

One of the more technical discussions centered on how to handle trait observations. We explored the idea of building a trait-searchable database, but we acknowledged a vital point: trait data depends heavily on the context (the research objective and treatments). To ensure this data isn't presented as absolute "facts" without context, we discussed adopting the MIAPPE-1 standard to better capture the experimental conditions.

We also touched upon the needs of smaller genebanks. While there was a suggestion that Genesys could serve as an internal documentation system, the Committee agreed that such a role is better suited for tools like GRIN-Global, while Genesys remains the premier window for public data sharing.

Our Community​

Thank you to those who joined the call:

  • Theo van Hintum (CGN)
  • Luciano Nass (Embrapa)
  • Peter Wenzl (CIAT)
  • Francisco Lopez (ITPGRFA, FAO)
  • Chris Richards (USDA)
  • Sunil Archak (NBPGR)
  • Matija Obreza (Crop Trust)

Apologies:

  • Luigi Guarino (Crop Trust)

We're looking forward to analyzing the survey results and defining our 2020 priorities in the coming months!