L'un des premiers experts à avoir été invité à collaborer avec les experts de la FAO était Helen Leitch de l'Université de Guelph (Ontario), une université canadienne de pointe spécialisée dans la génétique animale. Mme Leitch était invitée par le Groupe de ressources génétiques animales de la FAO pour mettre au point une stratégie de communication pour le Programme mondial de gestion des ressources zoogénétiques pour l'élevage. Les informations rassemblées dans le cadre de ce programme sont disséminées dans le monde entier par le biais du Système d'information (DAD-IS) pour la diversité des animaux domestiques disponible sur Internet (http://www.fao.org/dad-is/) et sur CD-ROM. DAD-IS fournit actuellement des données provenant de 180 pays sur 4 000 races de 28 espèces de bétail. La stratégie de communication conçue par Mme Leitch visait à répondre aux besoins de toutes les parties prenantes et à permettre un flux de communication bidirectionnel, en collaboration étroite avec les points focaux nationaux et régionaux et avec le point focal mondial du siège de la FAO.
Uno de los primeros expertos visitantes que ha trabajado con expertos de la FAO ha sido la Sra. H. Leitch, de la Universidad de Guelph en Ontario, una universidad líder en Canadá que se especializa en genética animal. La Sra. Leitch fue invitada por el Grupo de Recursos Genéticos Animales de la FAO para desarrollar una estrategia de comunicación del Programa mundial para la gestión de recursos genéticos de animales de granja. La información que recoge se difunde a nivel mundial a través del Sistema mundial de información sobre la diversidad de los animales domésticos (DAD-IS). Actualmente existen datos de 180 países sobre 4 000 razas de 28 especies de ganado disponibles en Internet (http://www.fao.org/dad-is/) y en CD-ROM. La estrategia de comunicación fue diseñada por la Sra. Leitch para responder a las necesidades de información de los interesados y para permitir un flujo de comunicación de doble vía, trabajando estrechamente con los puntos focales nacionales, los regionales y el punto focal mundial en la FAO.
One of the first visiting experts to work alongside FAO staff under the Programme of Cooperation with Academic and Research Institutions was Helen Leitch from the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, a leading university in the field of animal genetics. Leitch was invited by FAO's Animal Genetic Resources Group to develop a communication strategy for the Global Programme for the Management of Farm Animal Genetic Resources.
Currently, some 30 percent of the world's remaining animal genetic resources risk being lost. The erosion of genetic diversity progressively limits human capacity to maintain and enhance animal production and to adapt animal production systems in the face of changing conditions. Thus, the efficient use and conservation of animal genetic resources is a vital part of work towards global food security for the future.
The Global Programme for the Management of Farm Animal Genetic Resources, which is led and coordinated by FAO's Initiative for Domestic Animal Diversity, aims to promote optimal utilization of animal genetic resources, focusing on their conservation and management.
The information gathered by the programme is disseminated worldwide through the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS), available on the Internet (http://www.fao.org/dad-is/) and CD-ROM. DAD-IS currently provides data from 180 countries on 4 000 breeds of 28 species of livestock. The database is summarized and analysed in the publication World watch list for domestic animal diversity, which also contains a section on wild animal genetic diversity.
In designing the communication strategy, Leitch drew from experience she had obtained working with two major Canadian breeding organizations, one of which had outreach to 50 countries.
The strategy is to address all stakeholders' needs for information and to allow for a two-way flow of communication through close collaboration of national and regional focal points and the global focal point at FAO headquarters.
The Global Programme for the Management of Farm Animal Genetic Resources has developed comprehensive guidelines for the development of national action plans to manage animal genetic resources. During her year as visiting expert with FAO, Leitch visited Viet Nam to promote the development of a national action strategy. Part of her work there involved assisting the Vietnamese experts in setting up databases for categorization of their country's livestock.
Leitch commented that her work has promoted greater awareness in Canada of FAO and its role in the optimal use of animal genetic resources.
Helen Leitch, Canadian expert in animal genetic resources, visiting
Viet Nam
Helen Leitch, spécialiste canadienne des ressources génétiques animales, en mission au
Viet Nam
Helen Leitch, experta canadiense en recursos zoogenéticos, trabaja con expertos
vietnamitas