Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding, 1(4): 1276-1293 (July 2010) Lead Paper Plant genetic resources conservation and use in light of recent policy developments K.S. Varaprasad and N. Sivaraj Abstract: Plant genetic resources constitute our invaluable assets to meet the growing needs to increase crop production and productivity. Plant genetic resources constitute a unique global heritage and their conservation and utilization is of immediate concern. Over six million accessions of crop germplasm are currently being conserved worldwide in gene banks. Despite its overall advantage and promotion by the international community, in-situ conservation is still inadequate. Various international conventions have addressed the topic of genetic erosion and declining use of agrobiodiversity in modern agriculture. Concern about the future vulnerability of agricultural production, food security and environmental stability has moved the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources to the top of the international development agenda. Implications and impact of global conventions/ treaties/ agreements such as Convention on Biological Diversity, Trade related intellectual property rights and Sanitary and phytosanitary agreements under WTO, International plant protection convention, Global plan of action, International treaty on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture Convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora, Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (ICGTK) was set up in 2001, International union for protection of plant varieties, Global crop diversity trust and Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety on plant genetic resource activities are discussed. The changing national scenario in light of the above global developments particularly the provisions under Biological diversity Act and Protection of plant varieties and farmers’ rights act are discussed. The status of PGR conservation, documentation and utilization at global and national level is briefly discussed. Measures to promote PGR utilization including core development, prebreeding, gene prospecting, allele mining, public private partnerships and safe transboundary movement are discussed. Major issues and future thrust areas in the field of plant genetic resources are listed. Key words: Plant Genetic resources, conservation, documentation, utilization, global treaties Introduction Plant genetic resources (PGR) constitute our that make up the total gene pool of the crop. Thus, invaluable assets to meet the growing demands to genetic materials, therefore, could be a gene and its increase crop production and productivity. Plant alleles, a series of loci, quantitative trait loci (QTLs), genetic resources are the genetic material of plant linked genes, an epistatic set of gene combinations, a which determines their characteristics including their combination of different genomes, an addition or lack ability to adapt and survive. The PGR profile of a of whole chromosomes (polyploidy and aneuploidy crop, therefore, includes its wild species, weedy series) and their combinations. PGR in the form of companion species, sub-species, botanical varieties, seeds and plants provide the raw materials that landraces, ancient and heirloom cultivars, genetic scientists use to address crop production challenges, stocks, inbred lines, obsolete and modern cultivars develop new crops, and identify new uses for existing crops. Scientists use these resources to develop knowledge or products valuable in coping with National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) inadequate water or nutrient supplies, diseases or Regional Station, Hyderabad 500 030, Andhra Pradesh insect pests, heat and cold tolerance, understand their Email: [email protected] nutritional properties, and for many other purposes. 1276 Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding, 1(4): 1276-1293 (July 2010) PGR provides the genomic variability and the Policy developments and their implications on essence of crop improvement programme. Without PGR management adequate germplasm, a plant breeder’s success will The major global issues impacting genetic resources be deficient. management include the recent international treaties, conventions, agreements; global climate change; use Though, about 30 plant species provide the major of biotechnology and other technological advances in food and energy sources, some 3000 species of agriculture; biosecurity and biosafety, which are cultivated plants are grown worldwide for various briefly summarized below: purposes. Besides, there is a rich genetic wealth of other economic plants located in different centres of • The CBD (Convention on biological diversity), diversity. Unfortunately, in view of the rapid pace of adopted in 1992 at Rio de Janeiro, provides economic development, genetic diversity in such national sovereignty over genetic resources and areas is now highly threatened. All these genetic access conditions for other sovereign parties. resources of potential value for current and future Member countries including India brought new needs of humankind are increasingly being exploited acts establishing their sovereignty on biological and in danger of extinction due to habitat destruction. resources and associated knowledge occurring Thus, plant genetic resources constitute a unique within their geographical boundaries. USA is not global heritage and their conservation and utilization a signatory to CBD. is of immediate concern. There have been • CBD adopted the Bonn Guidelines on Access to tremendous efforts in ex-situ conservation of plant Genetic Resources and Fair and Equitable genetic resources. Over six million accessions of crop Sharing of Benefits Arising out of their germplasm are currently being conserved worldwide Utilization. The objectives of the Bonn in gene banks (FAO 1998). Despite its overall guidelines in relation to academic research are: advantage and promotion by the international • to promote awareness of the implementation of community, in-situ conservation is still inadequate. relevant provisions of the CBD • to provide parties to the CBD and stake-holders Currently, a number of new approaches offer with a transparent framework to facilitate access advances in crop improvement. These include gene- to genetic resources and ensure fair and equitable transfer and the use of marker-assisted selection as sharing of benefits tools for managing ‘desired’ trait diversity and • to provide information about the practices and improving the efficiency and scope of both approaches to be adopted by users and providers conventional plant breeding and genetic engineering. in the context of access and benefit sharing An increasing range of techniques is available to • to promote capacity building and the transfer of facilitate wide crosses in order to access germplasm appropriate technology to providing parties in the secondary and tertiary genepools. There is sizeable investment in many of these approaches • The Conference of the Parties mandated the including Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, Working Group on ABS to elaborate and although such investments are heavily biased towards negotiate an international regime on access to the agricultural systems of developed countries and genetic resources and benefit-sharing with the more export-oriented crops. aim to effectively implement the provisions in Article 15 and 8(j) of the Convention and the Various international conventions have addressed the three objectives of the Convention. The resumed topic of genetic erosion and declining use of ninth meeting of the ad hoc open-ended working agrobiodiversity in modern agriculture. Concern group on access and benefit-sharing will be held about the future vulnerability of agricultural in July, 2010 in Montreal, Canada and the results production, food security and environmental stability expected are (i) final draft protocol on “Access has moved the conservation and sustainable use of to genetic resources and the fair and equitable plant genetic resources to the top of the international sharing of benefits arising from their utilization” development agenda. Opportunities and challenges in and (ii) “Adoption of the Nagoya protocol on view of the recent policy developments in PGR access to genetic resources and the fair and conservation and utilization are being discussed. equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization.” 1277 Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding, 1(4): 1276-1293 (July 2010) • The World trade organization (WTO) dealing broadening efforts’, ‘promoting sustainable with the rules of trade between nations helps agriculture through diversification of crop producers of goods and services, exporters, and production and broader diversity in crops’ and importers conduct their business. TRIPS (Trade ‘supporting on farm management and related intellectual property rights) and SPS improvement of PGRFA’. Food and agriculture (Sanitary and phytosanitary), the agreements organization (FAO) efforts in establishing under WTO that have direct impact on PGR national information sharing mechanisms in Asia activities. is towards implementing the spirit of GPA among the member countries. • TRIPS, adopted in Marrakesh in 1994, provide a minimum IP protection standard for biological • International treaty on plant genetic resources for matter such as plant varieties, microorganisms, food and agriculture (ITPGRFA) entered into and microbiological processes. Amendments to force