Giving priority to cryogenic storage

Agenda 21 recommends that governments at the appropriate level, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should prepare and complete national inventories of available animal genetic resources, giving cryogenic storage priority over characterization and evaluation. Training of nationals in conservation and assessment techniques would be given special attention.

This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities. Agenda 21 recommends the use of cryogenic storage of germplasm to preserve breeds at serious risk.