As part of a new initiative, the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) approved for implementation in 2003 three pilot Challenge Programmes (defined as a "time-bound, independently-governed program of high impact research, that targets the CGIAR goals in relation to complex issues of overwhelming global and/or regional significance, and requires partnerships between a wide range of institutions in order to deliver its products") called 1) Water and Food 2) HarvestPlus and 3) Generation. The Generation Challenge Programme (GCP), whose aim is to "harness the rich global heritage of plant genetic resources and create a new generation of crops that meet the needs of resource-poor people", has 5 sub-programmes: Genetic diversity of global genetic resources; comparative genomics for gene discovery; trait capture for crop improvement; genetic resources, genomic, and crop information systems and, finally, capacity building. The GCP publishes an e-mail newsletter providing updates from the programme, including capacity building opportunities (e.g. a diversity/breeding course for national agricultural research systems (NARS) scientists in Pretoria, South Africa, 22 May to 3 June 2005). See the latest newsletter at http://www.generationcp.org/enewsletter.php?i=174 or contact [email protected] to be added to the mailing list.

01/03/2005