20
2 Genetic Resources: Status, Development, Losses, and Conservation
negotiations of PGRFA. Genetically coded information will be the unit which will
enable the development of appropriate concepts for identifying alternative
institutional mechanisms for the protection, transaction, and utilization of genetic
resources within the framework of general concepts of nature conservation,
including the formation of markets.
Another advantage of genetically coded information as an economic unit is the
opportunity to have a comprehensive unit which is applicable to genetic resources
exchange and transaction systems in agriculture as well as to the transaction of
genetic resources in general. As a future consequence, the institutional framework
of conservation of genetic resources will be challenged by an emerging
information market. The major disadvantage of the newly introduced economic
unit of genetic resources is that - for the time being - it is not practical; this is
especially true for PGRFA, because the technology needed to identify genetically
coded information is not advanced enough yet for general application.
Consequently, taking into account that varietal diversity is not the best unit, but
the most convenient, the varietal diversity is the most practical indicator for
PGRFA diversity as well as for the benefit and cost assessment for the present
analysis.
A narrowing of the species diversity in agrobiodiversity on global level can be
stated following the given definitions of agrobiodiversity (see Fig. 2.3. ): Among
an estimated 400,000 plant species (Groombridge, 1992), approximately 300,000
species have been documented (Heywood, 1995). Ten % (i.e., 30,000) of these
plants are edible and about 7,000 have been cultivated or collected by humans for
food or other agricultural purposes at one time or another (Wilson, 1992). The
production statistics of the international organizations mention approximately 200
crop species. Only 30 of all these mentioned crops, "feed the world", i.e., they
provide together 95% of dietary energy or protein. Only three crops, however, rice
(26%), wheat (23%), and maize (7%), provide over 50% of the global food energy
supply derived from crops (FAD, 1996a).
The narrowing of the species diversity is not only evident in crop production
and in farmers' fields, but also in the investment in conservation activities (see
Appendix 1 and Appendix 2). Approximately 25% of all 6.2 million ex situ stored
accessions come from one of these three crops (WIEWS, 1996; FAD, 1996a).
Furthermore, at least 37% of all stored accessions in the CGIAR centers are
derived from one of these three crops. Additionally, the CGIAR system spent
25% of all its 1995 expenditures for the genetic resources activities of the 9
relevant centers for activities relating to wheat, rice and maize (SGRP, 1996).
In addition to the narrowing of the species diversity, the varietal diversity in
agrobiodiversity seems to be decreasing. The loss of genetic diversity is a major
incentive for conservation efforts; there have been, however, only a few
systematic studies providing quantifiable estimates of the actual rates of reduction
in agrobiodiversity. There is neither information on historical situation as regards
agrobiodiversity, nor a comprehensive inventory of what currently exists in
farmers' fields. As an indicator for the loss of varietal diversity, cultivar
replacement measured by area is quoted in some of the Country Reports as well as
in some other literature (see Appendix 3).
2 Genetic Resources: Status, Development, Losses, and Conservation
negotiations of PGRFA. Genetically coded information will be the unit which will
enable the development of appropriate concepts for identifying alternative
institutional mechanisms for the protection, transaction, and utilization of genetic
resources within the framework of general concepts of nature conservation,
including the formation of markets.
Another advantage of genetically coded information as an economic unit is the
opportunity to have a comprehensive unit which is applicable to genetic resources
exchange and transaction systems in agriculture as well as to the transaction of
genetic resources in general. As a future consequence, the institutional framework
of conservation of genetic resources will be challenged by an emerging
information market. The major disadvantage of the newly introduced economic
unit of genetic resources is that - for the time being - it is not practical; this is
especially true for PGRFA, because the technology needed to identify genetically
coded information is not advanced enough yet for general application.
Consequently, taking into account that varietal diversity is not the best unit, but
the most convenient, the varietal diversity is the most practical indicator for
PGRFA diversity as well as for the benefit and cost assessment for the present
analysis.
A narrowing of the species diversity in agrobiodiversity on global level can be
stated following the given definitions of agrobiodiversity (see Fig. 2.3. ): Among
an estimated 400,000 plant species (Groombridge, 1992), approximately 300,000
species have been documented (Heywood, 1995). Ten % (i.e., 30,000) of these
plants are edible and about 7,000 have been cultivated or collected by humans for
food or other agricultural purposes at one time or another (Wilson, 1992). The
production statistics of the international organizations mention approximately 200
crop species. Only 30 of all these mentioned crops, "feed the world", i.e., they
provide together 95% of dietary energy or protein. Only three crops, however, rice
(26%), wheat (23%), and maize (7%), provide over 50% of the global food energy
supply derived from crops (FAD, 1996a).
The narrowing of the species diversity is not only evident in crop production
and in farmers' fields, but also in the investment in conservation activities (see
Appendix 1 and Appendix 2). Approximately 25% of all 6.2 million ex situ stored
accessions come from one of these three crops (WIEWS, 1996; FAD, 1996a).
Furthermore, at least 37% of all stored accessions in the CGIAR centers are
derived from one of these three crops. Additionally, the CGIAR system spent
25% of all its 1995 expenditures for the genetic resources activities of the 9
relevant centers for activities relating to wheat, rice and maize (SGRP, 1996).
In addition to the narrowing of the species diversity, the varietal diversity in
agrobiodiversity seems to be decreasing. The loss of genetic diversity is a major
incentive for conservation efforts; there have been, however, only a few
systematic studies providing quantifiable estimates of the actual rates of reduction
in agrobiodiversity. There is neither information on historical situation as regards
agrobiodiversity, nor a comprehensive inventory of what currently exists in
farmers' fields. As an indicator for the loss of varietal diversity, cultivar
replacement measured by area is quoted in some of the Country Reports as well as
in some other literature (see Appendix 3).