Objective:
The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) manages the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS), a network of genetic resources repositories, research stations, and service elements which maintain, regenerate, characterize, document, preserve, and distribute germplasm under United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) policies to research scientists all over the world. ARS has established a storage facility, the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation (NCGRP), Fort Collins, Colorado, for the long-term preservation of plant germplasm at the highest level of viability and genetic integrity, with the aim of ensuring a safe and secure supply of plant genetic resources for current and future use. The N.I. Vavilov Research Institute of Plant Industry (VIR) is Russia¿s plant germplasm research center, organized in 1894 and was attributed the status of Federal Scientific Center (FSC) in January, 1995, with the goal, inter alia, of collecting, preserving and evaluating genetic resources of cultivated plants and their wild relatives from around the world and coordinating research utilizing these materials for developing improved varieties. The VIR is the only research institution in Russia whose activities include global plant genetics resources (PGR) collection, conservation, maintenance and study.

Approach:
Recognizing the importance to humanity of protecting and conserving plant genetic resources for present and future generations, this Agreement will establish a framework for cooperation and coordination through the maintenance of a Joint Security Backup Collection of plant genetic resources, as a part of an ongoing program of ensuring the secure conservation of plant genetic resources. The Joint Security Backup Collection is intended to guarantee the security of plant genetic resources held at the VIR, and also to provide material for joint study and utilization.