Conservation of Genetic Resources: Costs and Implications for a Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

256 Pages·1999·6.15 MB·English

by  Dr. Detlef Virchow (auth.)

Conservation of Genetic Resources
Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg GmbH
D. Virchow
Conservation
of Genetic Resources
Costs and Implications
for a Sustainable Utilization
of Plant Genetic Resources for Food
and Agriculture
With 28 Figures and 31 rabIes
t
Springer
Dr. DETLEF VIRCHOW
ZEF Bonn - Zentrum für Entwicklungsforschung
(Center for Development Research)
Universität Bonn
Walter-Flex-Straße 3
53113 Bonn, Germany
Printed as dissertation with approval of the Agricultural Faculty
of the Christian-Albrechts-Universität of Kiel
ISBN 978-3-642-63599-1
Die Deutsche Bibliothek - CIP-Einheitsaufnahme
Virchow, Detlef. Conservation of genetic resources: costs and implications for a sustain
able utilization of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture; with 31 tables / Det
lef Virchow. - Berlin; Heidelberg; New York; Barcelona; Hong Kong; London; Milan;
Paris; Singapore; Tokyo: Springer, 1999
Zug!.: Kiel, Univ., Diss., 1998
ISBN 978-3-642-63599-1 ISBN 978-3-642-58450-3 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-58450-3
This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of
the material is concerned, specifkally the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illus
trations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilm or in any other way, and
storage in data banks. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is permitted only
under the provisions of the German Copyright Law of September 9, 1965, in its current
version, and permission for use must always be obtained from Springer-Verlag. Viola
tions are Iiable for prosecution under the German Copyright Law.
«> Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1999
Softcover reprint ofthe hardcover 1st edition 1999
The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publica
tion does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are
exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general
use.
Production: PRO EDIT GmbH, D-69126 Heidelberg
Cover design: de'blik, D-I0435 Berlin
Typesetting: Camera-ready from the author
SPIN 10696497 30/3136-5 4 3 2 1 0 - Printed on acid-free paper
Acknowledgements
This research was made possible through a grant by the Vater und Sohn
Eiselen-Stiftung, Ulm. The generous and far-sighted decision by the Foundation
and Senator Dr. Hermann Eiselen to establish this research in an area which will
be critical for world food security in the long run is gratefully acknowledged. This
grant also made it possible for me to become directly involved as a member of the
FAD Secretariat with the "International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic
Resources" in Leipzig, 1996 and FAD leadership in this important event.
In the course of this research project I benefited from the helpful conversation,
advice, and cooperation of many people, in particular including:
at FAD, Prof. Dr. Hartwig de Haen, Assistant Director-General; Prof. Dr. Jose
T. Esquinas-Alcazar, Dr. Umberto Menini, Dr. Murthi Anishetty, Dr. Clive
Stannard, as well as the FAD project team coordinated by Dr. Cary Fowler and
Dr. David Cooper and consisting among others of Suzanne Sharrock, Kristin
Kolshus, Iqbal Kermali; and at IPGRI, Dr. Jan Engels and others;
in India, Prof. Dr. R.B. Singh, Director of the Indian Agricultural Research
Institute; Dr. N.C. Jain, IARI; Dr. K.P.S. Chandel, Director of the National Bureau
of Plant Genetic Resources; Prof. Dr. Kumar, Head of Division of Agricultural
Economics, IARC; Prof. Dr. Ani! K. Gupta, Indian Institute of Management; Prof.
Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, M. Geetha Rani, both M.S. Swaminathan Research
Foundation; Dr. Eva Weltzien-Rattunde, Dr. N.K. Rao, Dr. A.K. Singh, all
ICRISAT;
in the German PGR system, Dr. Wilbert Himmighofen, German Federal
Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry; Dr. Frank Begemann and Dr. Anja
Oetmann, both Center for Information on Genetic Resources; Dr. Lothar Frese and
Stefan Bticken, both Braunschweig Genetic Resources Center; Prof. Dr. Karl
Hammer and Dr. Helmut Gtlde, both Institute of Crop Science and Plant Breeding;
at Kiel, my colleagues, especially Dr. Peter Wehrheim, Katinka Weinberger
and Matin Qaim.
Many others also provided valuable inputs, comments and help, especially
Regina Schulz-Giese and Derek Z. Gill.
Finally, I am particularly indebted to the pleasant and very efficient cooperation
with my supervisor Prof. Dr. Joachim von Braun whose intellectual guidance and
support are most gratefully acknowledged.
Although the present text was prepared with the assistance of the above
mentioned persons whose collaboration is greatly appreciated, I alone am
responsible for any errors, inaccuracies or omissions.
Detlef Virchow
Dedicated to
Christopher, Stephen, Laurenz and Lioba
who represent the generation to come,
and whose future needs should influence
the present generation's action.
Contents
1 Introduction ........................................................................... 1
1.1 Problems................................................................................. 1
1.2 Definitions of Genetic Resources ............................................. 4
1.3 Research Questions and Approach ........................................... 7
1.3.1 Research Questions....................................................... 7
1.3.2 Approach and Data Sources........................................... 9
1.4 Study Overview....................................................................... 9
2 Genetic Resources: Status, Development, Losses, and
Conservation Management............... .................. .................. 11
2.1 State and Development of the World's Genetic Diversity Centers 11
2.1.1 Centers for Plant Genetic Diversity................................ 12
2.1.2 Centers of Agrobiodiversity........................................... 13
2.1.3 The Interdependence of Countries on PGRF A ............... 14
2.2 Extent and Determinants of Genetic Extinction........................ 15
2.2.1 Review and Critical Analysis of the Methodologies of
Recording of Losses ........................................... , .. . . . . . . . . 16
2.2.2 Determinants for the Loss ofPGRFA ............................ 24
2.3 Similarities and Differences Between Biodiversity and
Agrobiodiversity...................................................................... 29
2.4 Methods for Conservation ofPGRFA....................................... 33
2.4.1 Ex Situ Conservation Management................................ 35
2.4.2 In Situ Conservation..................................................... 38
2.4.3 Combination of ex Situ and in Situ Methods .................. 41
3 Economic Framework of Conservation................................ 45
3.1 Conceptual Overview............................................................... 45
3.2 Economic Valuation of Environmental Goods at a National Level 46
3.2.1 General Concept of Assessing Environmental Goods..... 47
3.2.2 Method for Economic Valuation ofPGRFA Conservation 50
X Contents
3.3 Analysis of the Beneficiaries of PGRF A Conservation............. 55
3.4 Incentives for the Conservation ofPGRFA............................... 57
3.4.1 Theory of the Conservation ofPGRFA.......................... 57
3.4.2 Economic Mechanisms of Incentives for the
Conservation of PGRF A ............................................... 64
4 Institutional Frameworks for the Exchange and Utilization
PGRFA...............................................................................
of 75
4.1 Institutional Aspects of Exchange of PGRF A ........................... 76
4.2 Actors in the Conservation and Exchange Activities
of Plant Genetic Resources....................................................... 78
4.3 Protection of Intellectual Property Rights as Enforcement
of the Exchange of PGRF A...................................................... 84
4.3.1 International Agreements and the Ownership of Genetic
Resources..................................................................... 84
4.3.2 International Agreements and Their Coherence.............. 87
4.4 Different Systems for the Transaction of Genetic Resources ..... 90
4.4.1 Multilateral System ofPGRFA Exchange...................... 91
4.4.2 Bilateral System ofPGRFA Exchange .......................... 94
4.4.3 Market System ofPGRFA Exchange............................. 95
4.4.4 Determinants for the Development of Different Exchange
Systems and Their Funding........................................... 96
PGRFA.............................................
5 Conservation Costs of 101
5.1 Analysis of the Costs for PGRF A Conservation According to
Different Categories ................................................................ 102
5.1.1 Costs of ex Situ Conservation ........ ........ ... .................... 103
5.l. 2 Costs of in Situ Conservation........................................ III
5. 1.3 Transaction Costs of PGRF A Conservation................... 114
5.2 Expenditures of PGRF A Conservation at Country Level........... 115
5.3 Analysis of the International Expenditures in 1995................... 127
5.4 Effectiveness ofPGRFA Conservation for Analyzed Countries 139
6 Two Examples of PGRFA Conservation Systems: India and
Germany ................................................................................ 151
6.1 Indian Case Study.................................................................... 151
6. 1.1 Indian National Plant Genetic Resources System........... 152
6.l.2 National Policy on Plant Variety Recognition in India ... 157
6.1.3 Production and Distribution of Quality Seed.................. 158
6.2 German Case Study......... ...... ..... ................................. ............ 160
6.2.1 German System ofPGRFA Conservation...................... 160
6.2.2 Breeding....................................................................... 170
6.3 Summary of the Indian and German Case Studies..................... 173
Contents XI
7 Conclusions for PGRFA Conservation Policy and Further
Issues....................................................................
Research 175
7.1 The Conservation and Service Center as a Focal Point for
PGRF A Conservation Management.. ............................ ....... .... 175
7.2 Incentives of Moderation.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .... .. .. .. . 178
7.3 Compensation or Internalization? ............................................. 180
7.4 Increasing Effectiveness Through a Market System,
Technology Development and Cooperation.............................. 182
8 Summary ............................................................................... 185
9 Zusammenfassung ............................................................... 189
10 Appendices ........................................................................... 193
References.............................................................................
11 225
Index............................................................................................
241
Tables
Table 2.1 Distribution of higher plants by region................................ 12
Table 2.2 Examples of important secondary centers of diversity ......... 14
Table 2.3 Estimated current and future extinction rates of
plant species....................................................................... 18
Table 2.4 Reported genetic vulnerability in agricultural crops............. 23
Table 2.5 Comparison of Biodiversity and Agrobiodiversity............... 33
Table 2.6 Countries reporting in situ conservation programs
involving PGRF A............................................................... 41
Table 3.1 Relevant techniques for the valuation of environmental
goods ................................................................................. 49
Table 4.1 Classification of developing countries according to their
breeding capacity and their PGRF A potential, examples...... 97
Table 5.1 Costs arising according to different categories..................... 103
Table 5.2 Ex situ conservation costs according to seedbank capacity... 104
Table 5.3 Ex situ conservation costs according to different storage
facilities............................................................................. 105
Table 5.4 Costs for ex situ conservation of potatoes in Germany......... 105
Table 5.5 PGRF A conserved ex situ in OECD countries..................... 106
Table 5.6 Key parameters for ex situ conservation costs
on genebank level. . . . .. . .. .. . . .. .. . . .. .. .. . . ... ... .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 107
Table 5.7 The average costs for ex situ conserved accessions.............. III
Table 5.8 In situ conservation costs for potatoes in Peru ..................... 112
Table 5.9 National expenditures for PGRF A conservation.................. 119
Table 5.10 Ratio of domestic conservation expenditures to
ex situ conserved accessions for selected countries.............. 123
Table 5.11 Estimation of expenditures for the conservation of
PGRFA according to different criteria................................. 126
Table 5.12 Information from funding and executing agencies ............... 129
Table 5.13 International expenditures for the conservation
ofPGRFA.......................................................................... 132
Table 5.14 Additional efforts needed to increase the degree of
achievement of the conservation objectives......................... 137
Table 5.15 Cost estimates for the essential activities to increase the
effectiveness of the global conservation efforts ................... 138
Table 5.16 Rate of total effectiveness of PGRF A conservation
in different countries .......................................................... 141