6.2 German Case Study
165
tive is the collection, conservation, multiplication, characterization, evaluation and documentation of material as well as its supply (Hammer, 1995).
The genebank's crop evolution research has benefited from its close integration in IPK's work in the field of genetics, molecular and cell biology as
well as taxonomy (Hammer, 1995). The Institute's comprehensive herbarium is outstanding in its uniqueness. Specialized in crops and their wild relatives, it is one of the largest herbaria with over 300,000 samples (Giide,
1995). Besides the cooperation with other national and international institutes in the field of germplasm and information exchange, the genebank has
started to support training programs for students coming from developing
countries in cooperation with German foundations, e.g., DSE (Hammer,
1995).
• The German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) is as a public benefit service
enterprise in the field of development cooperation, which supports partner
countries development and reform processes. Some of the projects and programs are in the field of environmental protection and resource management.
For instance, GTZ supports developing countries to fulfill their obligations
under the terms of the Convention on Biological Diversity with the program
"Implementing the Biodiversity Convention". Hence, being accountable to
BMZ, GTZ's activities demand a close cooperation with BMU and its executive bodies as well as with BML and international active institutes like
BAZ's genebank (BGRC) and IGR.
• Foundations, such as the German Foundation for International Development
(DSE) - as independent acting public institutions - support the efforts of
PGRFA conservation and utilization, mainly through advanced training
measures for a skilled partner staff. In addition to foundations, other institutions, like the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), also implement training programs, supported financially by BMBF.
As part of the public sector as well, and mainly dependent on the federal or state
ministries of research and education, are the institutions of independent research:
• Basic research on the different aspects of biodiversity is carried out at the
universities and the Max Planck Institutes (MPI). Whereas universities are
mainly subject to the state and their financial support, MPI are financed
mainly by the federal government. The research related to agrobiodiversity
is mainly carried out in the field of applied plant breeding and biotechnology. Because of their independent status and combined with the decentralized German research policy, a dissemination of information exists. As for
the agricultural research related to developing countries, this gap was bridged by the Council for Tropical and Subtropical Agricultural Research
(ATSAF); its successor is the newly established Advisory Committee for
Development Oriented Agricultural Research (BEAF). The committee's
main task is to serve as focal point for all relevant scientists, concerning the
exchange and expertise of information.
• Most of the approximately 90 botanical gardens and herbaria in Germany are
associated with university research departments. Special projects, however,
165
tive is the collection, conservation, multiplication, characterization, evaluation and documentation of material as well as its supply (Hammer, 1995).
The genebank's crop evolution research has benefited from its close integration in IPK's work in the field of genetics, molecular and cell biology as
well as taxonomy (Hammer, 1995). The Institute's comprehensive herbarium is outstanding in its uniqueness. Specialized in crops and their wild relatives, it is one of the largest herbaria with over 300,000 samples (Giide,
1995). Besides the cooperation with other national and international institutes in the field of germplasm and information exchange, the genebank has
started to support training programs for students coming from developing
countries in cooperation with German foundations, e.g., DSE (Hammer,
1995).
• The German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) is as a public benefit service
enterprise in the field of development cooperation, which supports partner
countries development and reform processes. Some of the projects and programs are in the field of environmental protection and resource management.
For instance, GTZ supports developing countries to fulfill their obligations
under the terms of the Convention on Biological Diversity with the program
"Implementing the Biodiversity Convention". Hence, being accountable to
BMZ, GTZ's activities demand a close cooperation with BMU and its executive bodies as well as with BML and international active institutes like
BAZ's genebank (BGRC) and IGR.
• Foundations, such as the German Foundation for International Development
(DSE) - as independent acting public institutions - support the efforts of
PGRFA conservation and utilization, mainly through advanced training
measures for a skilled partner staff. In addition to foundations, other institutions, like the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), also implement training programs, supported financially by BMBF.
As part of the public sector as well, and mainly dependent on the federal or state
ministries of research and education, are the institutions of independent research:
• Basic research on the different aspects of biodiversity is carried out at the
universities and the Max Planck Institutes (MPI). Whereas universities are
mainly subject to the state and their financial support, MPI are financed
mainly by the federal government. The research related to agrobiodiversity
is mainly carried out in the field of applied plant breeding and biotechnology. Because of their independent status and combined with the decentralized German research policy, a dissemination of information exists. As for
the agricultural research related to developing countries, this gap was bridged by the Council for Tropical and Subtropical Agricultural Research
(ATSAF); its successor is the newly established Advisory Committee for
Development Oriented Agricultural Research (BEAF). The committee's
main task is to serve as focal point for all relevant scientists, concerning the
exchange and expertise of information.
• Most of the approximately 90 botanical gardens and herbaria in Germany are
associated with university research departments. Special projects, however,