Impact considerations of technological and policy developments on the conservation and use of (ornamental) genetic resources

Over the past decade or so substantial progress has been made in the development of a political framework for the conservation and sustainable utilization of agro-biodiversity. The conclusion of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture has led to key policy developments, addressing both the urgent need for long-term conservation and sustainable use of threatened genetic resources world-wide, as well as the need for appropriate access conditions and the equitable sharing of benefits. Advances in molecular genetics and information technologies have been dramatic and are very relevant to conservation and sustainable utilization of genetic resources in general. The world also faces the globalization of economies and a shift in property rights, particularly the use of patents to protect biological inventions. These developments have a significant impact on conservation and use of ornamental genetic resources and have coincided with a decrease in governmental support to agricultural research, including conservation activities, particularly in developing countries. As these countries also lack financial resources, technologies and adequately trained human resources to exploit the locally available genetic diversity, they face the dilemma of having significant genetic resources without being able to reap the benefits of their use. Consequently, these countries have no real incentive to invest in conservation activities. In the above context this paper will analyse the consequences of these developments for the conservation and use of ornamental genetic resources. It will also assess the need and the conditions for strategic partnerships between developing countries, the private sector, and national and international agricultural research institutions, so as to achieve both reliable, efficient long-term conservation goals and sustainable utilization solutions for the benefit of all.