This is the tenth Annual Report of the Foundation. A brief history describing the birth and growth of MSSRF is being published separately. In essence, the basic scientific mandate of MSSRF is to impart a pro-nature, pro-poor and pro-women orientation to a job-led economic growth strategy in rural areas. The first major
activity of MSSRF, soon after its establishment at Chennai in 1989, was the organisation of an
International Dialogue on Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) in collaboration with the Keystone Centre of the United States of America. This Dialogue, held from 29 January to 2 February 1990, resulted in several important recommendations such as the adoption of a global Convention on Biological Diversity, the establishment of a new financial facility for strengthening genetic resources conservation and the
recognition of the rights of farmers and rural communities, particularly of women, who have greatly contributed to the creation, conservation, exchange and knowledge of genetic diversity and species utilisation. The Keystone- MSSRF Dialogue also recommended that germplasm collections should be carried out under an acceptable ethical code which should include procedures such as the explicit advanced
clearance by the concerned country and agreement on sharing of benefits.
