Section A. Crop Wild Relatives A.1
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Chapter 4: Assessing the Threat of Genetic Erosion
Chapter 4: Assessing the threat of genetic erosion P. Mathur Bioversity International Sub-Regional Office for South Asia ew Delhi, India E-mail: [email protected] Abstract The world community has confirmed its commitment to the conservation of plant genetic resources that provide valuable traits for meeting the challenges of the future, such as adapting crops to changing climatic conditions or disease outbreaks. However, this plant diversity is threatened by “genetic erosion”, a term coined by scientists for the loss of individual genes or combinations of genes, such as those found in locally adapted landraces. One of the main causes of genetic erosion is the replacement of local varieties by modern varieties. Other causes include environmental degradation, urbanization and land clearing through deforestation and bush fires. Genetic erosion can also occur on the level of germplasm collections and genebanks due to improper management and inadequate regeneration procedures. There is a need to strengthen the conservation and sustainable use of plants and seed systems, and the crucial linkages between them, through a combination of appropriate policies, use of scientific information, farmers’ knowledge, and action. Traditionally, efforts to counter genetic erosion have concentrated on conserving seeds in crop genebanks ( ex situ ). Today, it has become clear that the best strategy combines ex situ conservation with on-the-ground ( in situ ) conservation by farmers in their agro-ecosystems and of crop wild relatives in, for example, areas protected for their environmental value. While such mechanisms are vital, the sustainable use of plant genetic resources is likewise essential because plant genetic diversity increases options and provides insurance against future adverse conditions, such as extreme and variable environments. -
Genetic and Demographic Dynamics of Small Populations of Silene Latifolia
Heredity (2003) 90, 181–186 & 2003 Nature Publishing Group All rights reserved 0018-067X/03 $25.00 www.nature.com/hdy Genetic and demographic dynamics of small populations of Silene latifolia CM Richards, SN Emery and DE McCauley Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, PO Box 1812, Station B, Nashville, TN 37235, USA Small local populations of Silene alba, a short-lived herbac- populations doubled in size between samples, while others eous plant, were sampled in 1994 and again in 1999. shrank by more than 75%. Similarly, expected heterozygosity Sampling included estimates of population size and genetic and allele number increased by more than two-fold in diversity, as measured at six polymorphic allozyme loci. individual populations and decreased by more than three- When averaged across populations, there was very little fold in others. When population-specific change in number change between samples (about three generations) in and change in measures of genetic diversity were considered population size, measures of within-population genetic together, significant positive correlations were found be- diversity such as number of alleles or expected hetero- tween the demographic and genetic variables. It is specu- zygosity, or in the apportionment of genetic diversity within lated that some populations were released from the and among populations as measured by Fst. However, demographic consequences of inbreeding depression by individual populations changed considerably, both in terms gene flow. of numbers of individuals and genetic composition. Some Heredity (2003) 90, 181–186. doi:10.1038/sj.hdy.6800214 Keywords: genetic diversity; demography; inbreeding depression; gene flow Introduction 1986; Lynch et al, 1995), the interaction of genetics and demography could also influence population persistence How genetics and demography interact to influence in common species, because it is generally accepted that population viability has been a long-standing question in even many abundant species are not uniformly distrib- conservation biology. -
Gene Flow in the Environment – Genetic Pollution? G.R
Gene flow in the environment Gene flow in the environment – genetic pollution? G.R. Squire, N. Augustin, J. Bown1, J.W. Crawford, G. Dunlop, J. Graham, J.R. Hillman, B. Marshall, D. Marshall, G. Ramsay, D.J. Robinson, J. Russell, C. Thompson & G. Wright iological invasions have had profound effects on affect plants and animals, injure us? Will crops in gen- Bhuman society from the earliest times. The spread eral, and GM ones in particular, reduce even more the of the black death in the Middle Ages, the devasta- biological diversity of arable farmland? Will they con- tions of potato blight, the effects on indigenous taminate other crops, cause more pesticide to be used, species by grey squirrels, dutch elm disease and flat- rather than less as some companies claim? worms have all been seen as detrimental to man or the environment. Others are seen as bringing benefits: An increasing number of people have a stake in the most of our crops evolved elsewhere in the world and debate - pressure groups, farmers, farm advisers, con- many culinary and medicinal herbs were brought to sumers, agrochemical companies and government. Britain by the Romans. Perhaps the greatest invasion Opinions are too often polarised. In this confronta- is the import of vast numbers of exotic plants to gar- tional atmosphere, the need is for clear, independent dens and greenhouses. Ecological invasions are an fact, answers and comment. A part of the debate is intrinsic part of ecology and evolution and we only ethical, but independent research is essential on ques- consider them bad if they impoverish our health, tions that science can legitimately address. -
Protected Areas and the Challenge of Conserving Crop Wild Relatives
PARKS 2012 Vol 18.1 PROTECTED AREAS AND THE CHALLENGE OF CONSERVING CROP WILD RELATIVES Danny Hunter1*, Nigel Maxted2, Vernon Heywood3, Shelagh Kell2 and Teresa Borelli1 * Corresponding author, [email protected] 1 Bioversity International, Rome, Italy 2 School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom 3 School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AS, United Kingdom ABSTRACT Crop wild relatives are a critical resource for sustaining future food security. It is widely recognized that many of the world’s protected areas contain CWR diversity. Despite this, it has not yet proved possible to undertake significant actions to conserve the CWR they contain. Many challenges and obstacles need to be addressed in order to improve this situation. Recent initiatives have started to address these challenges and uncovered some key lessons. Still, the need for action is urgent and the paper concludes by drawing attention to the need for a global approach to conserving priority and threatened CWR in the wild. INTRODUCTION worth noting that the same study found breeders’ use of CWR taxa was increasing year on year, even though it Crop wild relatives (CWR) - wild plant species closely was recognized that they were still far from being related to crops to which they may contribute beneficial systematically exploited. genes - constitute an enormous reservoir of genetic variation for crop improvement and are an important Some idea of the scale of benefits may be obtained from socio-economic resource. Genes from wild plants have published estimates referring to a selected number of provided crops with resistance to many pests and crops. -
Crop Genetic Resources Bulletin Number 2 an Economic Appraisal May 2005 Kelly Day Rubenstein, Paul Heisey, Robbin Shoemaker, John Sullivan, and George Frisvold
A Report from the Economic Research Service United States Department www.ers.usda.gov of Agriculture Economic Information Crop Genetic Resources Bulletin Number 2 An Economic Appraisal May 2005 Kelly Day Rubenstein, Paul Heisey, Robbin Shoemaker, John Sullivan, and George Frisvold Abstract: Crop genetic resources are the basis of agricultural production, and significant economic benefits have resulted from their conservation and use. However, crop genetic resources are largely public goods, so private incentives for genetic resource conservation may fall short of achieving public objectives. Within the U.S. germplasm system, certain crop collec- tions lack sufficient diversity to reduce vulnerability to pests and diseases. Many such genetic resources lie outside the United States. This report examines the role of genetic resources, genetic diversity, and efforts to value genetic resources. The report also evaluates economic and institutional fac- tors influencing the flow of genetic resources, including international agree- ments, and their significance for agricultural research and development in the United States. Keywords: Genetic resources, genetic diversity, germplasm, R&D, interna- tional transfer of genetic resources, in situ conservation, ex situ conserva- tion, gene banks, intellectual property. Acknowledgments: The authors wish to thank Allan Stoner, Henry Shands, and Peter Bretting for their thoughtful reviews and their valuable comments. Thanks for reviews above and beyond the call of duty belong to June Blalock, whose patience and insight were critical to the production of this report. We also thank Joe Cooper who reviewed portions of the manuscripts. Keith Wiebe provided helpful guidance in the development of the final draft. We thank Dale Simms for his excellent editorial work and Susan DeGeorge for her help with graphics and layout. -
Toward Unifying Global Hotspots of Wild and Domesticated Biodiversity
plants Review Toward Unifying Global Hotspots of Wild and Domesticated Biodiversity Samuel Pironon 1,*, James S. Borrell 1, Ian Ondo 1, Ruben Douglas 1, Charlotte Phillips 2, Colin K. Khoury 3,4 , Michael B. Kantar 5 , Nathan Fumia 5 , Marybel Soto Gomez 6,7 , Juan Viruel 1 , Rafael Govaerts 1 ,Félix Forest 1 and Alexandre Antonelli 1,8 1 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond TW93AQ, UK; [email protected] (J.S.B.); [email protected] (I.O.); [email protected] (R.D.); [email protected] (J.V.); [email protected] (R.G.); [email protected] (F.F.); [email protected] (A.A.) 2 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Wakehurst Place TW93AE, UK; [email protected] 3 International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Cali 6713, Colombia; [email protected] 4 Department of Biology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63103, USA 5 Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Science, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA; [email protected] (M.B.K.); [email protected] (N.F.) 6 Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada; [email protected] 7 UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada 8 Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Göteborg, Sweden * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 17 July 2020; Accepted: 27 August 2020; Published: 31 August 2020 Abstract: Global biodiversity hotspots are areas containing high levels of species richness, endemism and threat. Similarly, regions of agriculturally relevant diversity have been identified where many domesticated plants and animals originated, and co-occurred with their wild ancestors and relatives. -
The Role of Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
March 2021 CGRFA/WG-AqGR-3/21/Inf.15 E COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE Item 8 of the Provisional Agenda INTERGOVERNMENTAL TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP ON AQUATIC GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE Third Session 1 - 3 June 2021 THE ROLE OF GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE IN CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION TABLE OF CONTENTS Paragraphs I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1 – 2 II. SCOPING STUDY ON THE ROLE OF GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE IN ADAPTATION TO AND MITIGATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE ....................................................................................................................... 3 Appendix: Scoping study on the role of genetic resources for food and agriculture in adaptation to and mitigation of climate change NF847 2 CGRFA/WG-AqGR-3/21/Inf.15 I. INTRODUCTION 1. The Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Commission), at its last session, requested FAO to prepare a scoping study on the role of genetic resources for food and agriculture (GRFA) in adaptation to and mitigation of climate change, including knowledge gaps, taking into account the forthcoming special reports on terrestrial and marine systems by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and other available relevant sources, including examples from different regions and subsectors.1 2. The Commission further requested its Intergovernmental Technical Working Groups to review the study. II. SCOPING STUDY ON THE ROLE OF GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE IN ADAPTATION TO AND MITIGATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE 3. The draft text of the scoping study on the role of genetic resources for food and agriculture in adaptation to and mitigation of climate change is presented in Appendix to this document. -
Crop Wild Relatives: Plant Conservation for Food Security
Natural England Research Report NERR037 Crop Wild Relatives: Plant conservation for food security www.naturalengland.org.uk Natural England Research Report NERR037 Crop Wild Relatives: Plant conservation for food security John Hopkins1 and Nigel Maxted2 1Natural England 2University of Birmingham Published on 25 January 2011 © Natural England copyright 2011 ISSN 1754-1956 This material is subject to Natural England copyright protection under the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988. Natural England copyright protected material (other than Natural England logos) may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium for non-commercial purposes, private study, criticism, review, news reporting and for internal circulation within your organisation. This is subject to the material being reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading context. Where any of the Natural England copyright material is being republished or copied to others, the source of the material must be identified and the copyright status acknowledged. However, if you wish to use all or part of this information for commercial purposes, including publishing you will need to apply for a licence. Applications can be sent to: Publications Natural England 3rd Floor, Touthill Close, City Road Peterborough PE1 1XN Tel: 0845 600 3078 Fax: 01733 455103 Email: [email protected] Crop Wild Relatives: Plant conservation for food security i Project details This report is a review of the scientific literature relating to Crop Wild Relatives and related aspects of crop genetic diversity conservation, carried out by the authors. A summary of the findings covered by this report, as well as Natural England's views on this research, can be found within Natural England Research Information Note RIN037 – Crop Wild Relatives: Plant conservation for food security. -
Bees, Beekeepers, and Bureaucrats: Parasitism and the Politics of Transgenic Life
EnvironmentandPlanningD:SocietyandSpaceadvance online publication doi:10.1068/d0510 Bees, beekeepers, and bureaucrats: parasitism and the politics of transgenic life Javier Lezaun Institute for Science, Innovation and Society, University of Oxford, Park End Street, Oxford OX1 1HP, England; e-mail: [email protected] Received 5 January 2010; in revised form 26 September 2010; published online 3 June 2011 Abstract. Over the last decade the flying patterns and foraging behavior of bees have become a matter of public policy in the European Union. Determined to establish a system where transgenic crops can `coexist' with conventional and organic farming, the EU has begun to erect a system of demarcations and separations designed to minimize the extent of `gene flow' from genetically modified plants. As the European landscape is regimented through the introduction of isolation distances and buffer zones, bees and other pollinating insects have become vectors of `genetic pollution', disrupting the project of cohabitation and purification devised by European authorities. Drawing on the work of Michel Serres on parasitism, this paper traces the emergence of bees as an object of regulatory scrutiny and as an interruptor of the `coexistence' project. Along with bees, however, another uninvited guest arrived unexpectedly on the scene: the beekeeper, who came to see his traditional relationship to bees, crops, and consumers at risk. The figure of the parasite connects the two essential dynamics described in this paper: an escalation of research and the intensification of political attributes. ``The founding of the naked, empty field, virgin once more, is the oldest work of the human world.'' Michel Serres (2007 The Parasite) At the turn of this century bees became a preoccupation of European bureaucrats. -
The Cartagena Protocol and Biological Diversity; Biosafe Or Bio- Sorry
Case Western Reserve University School of Law Scholarly Commons Faculty Publications 2000 The Cartagena Protocol and Biological Diversity; Biosafe or Bio- sorry Jonathan H. Adler Case Western University School of Law, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/faculty_publications Part of the Natural Resources Law Commons Repository Citation Adler, Jonathan H., "The Cartagena Protocol and Biological Diversity; Biosafe or Bio-sorry" (2000). Faculty Publications. 190. https://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/faculty_publications/190 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Case Western Reserve University School of Law Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of Case Western Reserve University School of Law Scholarly Commons. The Cartagena Protocol and Biological Diversity: Biosafe or Bio�Sorry? . JONATHAN H. ADLER* CONTENTS I. Introduction . 761 IT. TheThreat to Biodiversity. 764 ill. TheCartagena Protocol on Biosafety. 768 IV. Biosafety Versus Biodiversity. 772 V. Conclusion . 777 I. INTRODUCTION In February 1999, delegates from some 170 nations were summoned to Cartagena, Columbia to finalize an international protocol on the regulation of biotechnology. Under the auspices of the United Nations Convention on Biologi cal Diversity (CBD),1 national representatives and members of non-governmen tal organizations met to hammer out the details of a new regulatory regime for genetically modified organisms. "We need a widely accepted protocol that protects the environment, strengthens the capacity of developing countries to ensure biosafety, complements existing national regulations, and promotes public confidence in biotechnology and the benefits it can offer," proclaimed Klaus 2 Toepfer, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme. -
A Call to Protect Food Systems from Genetic Extinction Technology: the Global Food and Agriculture Movement Says NO to Release of Gene Drives
A Call to Protect Food Systems from Genetic Extinction Technology: The Global Food and Agriculture Movement Says NO to Release of Gene Drives Gene drives are new tools that force genetically engineered traits through entire populations of insects, plants, animals and other organisms. This invasive technology represents a deliberate attempt to create a new form of genetic pollution. Gene Drives may drive species to extinction and undermine sustainable and equitable food and agriculture. Gene drives threaten natural systems. If released experimentally into the environment they may spread engineered genes uncontrollably through wild and domesticated species. This could alter ecological systems and food webs, harm biodiversity and eradicate beneficial organisms such as pollinators. Gene drives could disrupt lands, waters, food and fiber economies and harm Indigenous and peasant agroecological practices and cultures. Gene drives are being developed for use in agriculture. If applied, they may make farms even more genetically uniform and foreclose farmers’ rights, as enshrined, among others, in the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and other People Working in Rural Areas. Use of gene drives may further entrench a system of genetically-engineered industrial agriculture, extend agro-toxin use and concentrate corporate control over global food systems, undermining the food sovereignty of farmers, food workers and consumers. Gene drives hinder the realization of human rights including rights to healthy, ecologically-produced and culturally appropriate food and nutrition. We, the undersigned, call for a global moratorium on any release of engineered gene drives. This moratorium is necessary to affirm the precautionary principle, which is enshrined in international law, and to protect life on Earth as well as our food supply. -
Ecology: Biodiversity and Natural Resources Part 1
CK-12 FOUNDATION Ecology: Biodiversity and Natural Resources Part 1 Akre CK-12 Foundation is a non-profit organization with a mission to reduce the cost of textbook materials for the K-12 market both in the U.S. and worldwide. Using an open-content, web-based collaborative model termed the “FlexBook,” CK-12 intends to pioneer the generation and distribution of high-quality educational content that will serve both as core text as well as provide an adaptive environment for learning. Copyright © 2010 CK-12 Foundation, www.ck12.org Except as otherwise noted, all CK-12 Content (including CK-12 Curriculum Material) is made available to Users in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution/Non-Commercial/Share Alike 3.0 Un- ported (CC-by-NC-SA) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/), as amended and updated by Creative Commons from time to time (the “CC License”), which is incorporated herein by this reference. Specific details can be found at http://about.ck12.org/terms. Printed: October 11, 2010 Author Barbara Akre Contributor Jean Battinieri i www.ck12.org Contents 1 Ecology: Biodiversity and Natural Resources Part 1 1 1.1 Lesson 18.1: The Biodiversity Crisis ............................... 1 1.2 Lesson 18.2: Natural Resources .................................. 32 2 Ecology: Biodiversity and Natural Resources Part I 49 2.1 Chapter 18: Ecology and Human Actions ............................ 49 2.2 Lesson 18.1: The Biodiversity Crisis ............................... 49 2.3 Lesson 18.2: Natural Resources .................................. 53 www.ck12.org ii Chapter 1 Ecology: Biodiversity and Natural Resources Part 1 1.1 Lesson 18.1: The Biodiversity Crisis Lesson Objectives • Compare humans to other species in terms of resource needs and use, and ecosystem service benefits and effects.