ISHS Acta Horticulturae 683: V International Symposium on New Floricultural Crops
ORNAMENTAL PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND UTILIZATION IN THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY ERA |
| Author: | D. Tay |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2005.683.27 |
| Abstract:
The adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1993 has changed the ownership of the world plant genetic resources from that of common property for all humankind to that of individual country natural resources. The global effort in the conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources is transitioning these changes. Currently, there are no standard international implementation protocols specifically relating to germplasm access and benefit-sharing (ABS). It may be as simple as straightforward bilateral technical joint cooperation and cost sharing in collecting and exchanging targeted germplasm between two countries as exemplified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) plant exploration missions to complex agreements with monetary benefit sharing when germplasm is commercialized. This paper summarizes and analyzes the effect of CBD in relation to germplasm conservation and utilization. The November 2001 International Treaty (IT) on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture is the first attempt to provide a set of common implementation protocols for ABS through information exchange, access to and transfer of technology, capacity building, and sharing of monetary benefits paid under a multilateral system. The features suitable for application in ornamental plant species are identified and evaluated in relation to the current intellectual property rights protection methods including the plant breeders right/plant variety protection system of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants, and the US Plant Patent and Utility Patent system. The advantages and disadvantages of the methods proposed are compared and evaluated in terms of benefits to plant genetic resources conservation and utilization. Collaborative models are illustrated to promote the collection, conservation and utilization of ornamental plant species in accordance with CBD. | |
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