Policy Issues in Germplasm Management

Abstract

Plant genetic resources have played significant role in
the development of agriculture, providing food, feed
and fodder and also numerous medicines and industrial
products. In general, the genetic diversity in plant is
mostly located in tropical and sub-tropical regions of
the world and countries are inter-dependent on their
germplasm needs. The first international and
intergovernmental discussions on access to genetic
resources related to food and agriculture were initiated
in 1979 and a formal agreement, the International
Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources (IUPGR) was
adopted in 1983. It established the principle of plant
genetic resources as the "heritage of mankind" and
consequently these resources were available to bonafide
users without restriction.