The Exploitation of Genetic Resources

Abstract

Modern agriculture depends on a flow of improved forms of crop plants. These are fashioned by breeders from germplasm which provides the genetic information needed to increase yield and quality and add resistance to pests, diseases and adverse environmental factors such as drought, temperature extremes and toxic soils. In the industrialized countries genetic resources are maintained and evaluated in collections supported by public funds. The Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) supports international, regional and some national collections for the benefit of industrialized and developing countries. Among these are the collections of the International Agricultural Research Centers (IARCS) one of which, the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources, plays a central coordinating role. While agriculture has always been concerned with maximizing production at the lowest possible monetary cost, other factors, such as the environment and consumer health, have begun to play a part in determining agricultural strategies in recent years. In the developing world agricultural production is geared first to satisfying the demands of human hunger, and then to exports that generate foreign exchange to improve the standard of living of the population. However, here also pressure to maintain environmental quality is growing. There are two views of the exploitation of genetic resources. One is that it represents the utilization of a natural resource.