The Department of Agriculture Can Minimize the Risk of Potential Crop Failures

GAO reviewed the need for improved management of plant genetic resources to minimize crop damage due to disease, insects, or adverse weather conditions. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a number of programs meant to reduce the risks resulting from the vulnerability of crops.

Because producers use relatively few high-yielding varieties, plant vulnerability has increased over the past 50 years. A group of federal, state, and private programs called the National Plant Germplasm System has been established to reduce the vulnerability and to further improve plant varieties. However, this system lacks a sense of direction and purpose and does not have effective, centralized management. The problems experienced by the system in the collection, storage, and maintenance areas included: (1) the lack of systematic collection of new germplasm; (2) inadequate storage facilities; (3) incomplete and sporadic evaluation of the distinguishing characteristics of stored germplasm; and (4) possible permanent loss of some genetic stock which is not regularly replenished by periodic growing out of seed. Critical policy questions have not been addressed, indications are that mechanisms are inadequate, and comprehensive plans have not been made to cope with present and future problems.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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