Valuing animal genetic resources: lessons from plant genetic resources

Abstract

A growing body of theoretical and empirical studies has examined issues relating to the valuation, utilization, and management of plant genetic resources (PGRs). This paper attempts to summarize relevant lessons from this literature for animal genetic resources. Conceptually and methodologically, there are strong similarities between plant and animal genetic resources. However, the literature on PGRs makes it clear that most of the important policy questions require empirical information—about costs of collection and storage; about the “uniqueness” of desirable traits; about the technologies for in situ and ex situ conservation, etc. In these respects, there are big differences between plant and animal genetic resources. Improving the empirical understanding of animal genetic resource conservation should be a focus of future research.