Changing patterns in genebank acquisitions of crop genetic materials: An analysis of global policy drivers and potential consequences

Dawit Mekonnen and David Spielman

Food Policy, 2021, vol. 105, issue C

Abstract: During the past two decades, a series of global policy changes affecting genetic resource conservation, use, and exchange have entered into force: the 2004 International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), and more recently, the 2014 Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (NP), a follow-on to the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). This paper characterizes the changing policy landscape governing international exchanges of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA). Emphasis is placed on understanding how global and national policy changes associated with the CBD and ITPGRFA are significantly associated with the movement of genetic resources to draw lessons about the potential effects of the NP. We examine crop-specific historical trends in genebank acquisitions, changes in germplasm exchange networks over time, and correlates of such exchanges for seven crops that are important to food security in many developing countries. We observe sharp declines in genebank acquisitions in 1993 (when the CBD came into effect) followed by reductions in germplasm exchange network sizes. These trends and patterns change after 2004 (when the ITPGRFA came into effect), but only for some crops. We also find that a country’s membership in the CBD is closely associated with reductions in genetic resource flows, while ITPGRFA membership has an opposite association. Despite important crop and country variations, results suggest the considerable influence of both the CBD and ITPGRFA, further suggesting that the NP may affect global PGRFA flows in a potentially negative and unintended manner.

Keywords: CBD; Genetic resources policy; Genebanks; Germplasm; ITPGRFA; Nagoya Protocol (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q16 Q18 Q55 Q57 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030691922100141X
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jfpoli:v:105:y:2021:i:c:s030691922100141x

DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2021.102161

Access Statistics for this article

Food Policy is currently edited by J. Kydd

More articles in Food Policy from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().