Access to Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

This chapter looks at the contribution of plant genetic resources to agricultural innovation and concerns about the appropriation of those resources by unauthorized persons. It details ‘biopiracy’ episodes which have involved patents and plant variety rights. The chapter looks at the role of the traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples and farmers in identifying useful genetic resources. The international conventions regulating access to genetic resources are described, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Nagoya Protocol, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). The chapter concludes with an examination of the negotiations for a treaty on genetic resources at the World Intellectual Property Organization.