Abstract
Governments both in developed and developing countries are exploring means to support comprehensive plant genetic resource programs interactive with the international network coordinating global distribution and conservation of germplasm. National plant genetic resource programs can serve as an effective interface between the conservation of a country’s biological resources and their availability for use in crop improvement. Recent developments in the global exchange of germplasm, molecular characterization of genetic diversity, and conservation biology, and the increasing size of many collections have focused renewed attention on national germplasm capabilities.
Within the context of international development, genetic resource initiatives have been supported through projects designed to improve crop efficiency and productivity in developing countries. These research programs, many of which are based at international agricultural research centers, have also provided a means to fund crop-specific plant genetic resource activities. This funding includes support for germplasm conservation and evaluation, conventional breeding, and, more recently, biotechnology. Support for plant genetic resource initiatives at the national level is becoming more appropriate for development assistance. However, for this support to become more institutionalized, a number of steps must be taken and suitable policies determined.
The opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Agency for International Development.
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© 1989 Kluwer Academic Publishers
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Cohen, J.I., Bertram, R. (1989). Plant genetic resource initiatives in international development. In: Knutson, L.V., Stoner, A.K. (eds) Biotic Diversity and Germplasm Preservation, Global Imperatives. Beltsville Symposia in Agricultural Research, vol 13. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2333-1_24
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2333-1_24
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