Role of Biotechnology in Exploring and Protecting Agricultural Genetic Resources

By Shad Ferry

PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES HAVE BEEN DEFINED AS THE GENETIC MATERIAL OF PLANTS, WHICH IS OF VALUE AS A RESOURCE FOR PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE. TRADITIONALLY, THIS DEFINITION FOCUSED ON CROP PLANTS AND THEIR WILD RELATIVES, BUT IT IS INCREASINGLY CONSIDERED THAT ALL PLANT SPECIES ARE A POTENTIAL RESOURCE FOR HUMANITY. THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF GENETIC RESOURCES CONSERVATION IS TO ENSURE THAT THE MAXIMUM POSSIBLE GENETIC DIVERSITY OF A TAXON IS MAINTAINED AND AVAILABLE FOR UTILIZATION. PLANT GENETIC RESOURCE CONSERVATION ACTS AS A LINK BETWEEN THE GENETIC DIVERSITY OF A PLANT AND ITS UTILIZATION OR EXPLOITATION BY HUMANS. THIS BOOK PROVIDES AN UP-TO-DATE OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE WORLD’S GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE; OF THE USE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY TOOLS FOR CHARACTERIZING AND CONSERVING THESE GENETIC RESOURCES, AND OF THE MANY SPECIFIC ISSUES INVOLVED IN USING THEM FOR THESE PURPOSES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.