Biopolicy, Volume 3, Paper 2 (PY00002) November 24th 2000
Online Journal - URL: http://www.bioline.org.br/py
Establishing the Scope of a Multilateral System for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture: Implications of Crop Exclusions
Cary Fowler, Ph.D. Agricultural University of Norway / IPGRI, P.O. Box 5001, N-1432 Aas, Norway cary.fowler@noragric.nlh.no
Code Number: PY00002
Received October 19th, 2000
Accepted November 20th, 2000
Published November 24th, 2000
SUMMARY:
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is currently hosting intergovernmental negotiations on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. It expected that these negotiations will result in the creation of a Multilateral System with agreed rules for access and benefit-sharing for a specified group of crops. There are wide differences among governments about how many and which crops should be placed within this system. While much of the discussion has centered around the functioning of the Multilateral System, comparatively little has been said about what effect there might be on crops excluded from this system. This paper looks in particular at those crops of interest to the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) that are in danger of being excluded from the Multilateral System. The paper argues that exclusion of those crops is likely to result in reductions in access, conservation and plant breeding for developing countries with few offsetting benefits.
Key words: Food and Agriculture Organisation, FAO, International Undertaking, plant genetic resources, CGIAR, access, benefit sharing, Convention on Biological Diversity, CBD
Copyright remains with the author
Published by Biostrategy Associates, UK
