include continued uneven geographic coverage, operational problems, inadequate budgets and personnel, and neglect because of the low priority of germplasm collections in national development programs (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, 1985). With many developing countries hardly able to support minimal agricultural research programs, it is doubtful that their germplasm programs will continue without external assistance.

Several reviews point to the lack of linkages between national germplasm banks and plant breeders as a major weakness obstructing the use of the collections (Chang, 1985a,b; Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, 1985; Frankel, 1989a). In a few cases, germplasm banks were established in countries that had no plant breeding programs to exploit the resources (Williams, 1989b). In the opinion of one expert, the shortage of plant breeders in small developing countries is a far more urgent problem than is genetic resources programs (Frankel, 1989a).

These critical weaknesses present opportunities where support by bilateral donors would have a major impact on the realization of benefits from national germplasm banks. Linkages between national genetic resources programs and breeding activities should be fostered through the support of germplasm enhancement and through the support of data-base development (Cohen and Bertram, 1989). Such initiatives would help to integrate genetic resources programs into national agricultural development strategies, but only if the support were sufficiently long term.

A number of other international organizations, both governmental and nongovernmental, have made important contributions to conserving plant genetic diversity. Notable examples of organizations pursuing ecosystem-oriented conservation efforts include the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (now known as the World Conservation Union), the United Nations Environment Program, and the World Wide Fund for Nature (Drake, 1989; Heywood, 1989). The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has expressed interest in the exchange of plant germplasm and genetic resources issues as part of its global program since 1947. It has provided IBPGR with facilities (until 1989) and support (Esquinas-Alcazar, 1989).

Since the late 1970s, FAO has been the forum for debate over the control of genetic resources that intensified after passage of the U.S. Plant Variety Protection Act in 1970 (7 U.S.C. Sections 2321-2583).

Front Matter (R1-R24)

Executive Summary (1-28)

An Overview of Genetic Resources Management (29-44)

Part I: Basic Science Issues (45-46)

1. Genetic Vulnerability and Crop Diversity (47-84)

2. Crop Diversity: Institutional Responses (85-116)

3. In Situ Conservation of Genetic Resources (117-130)

4. The Science of Collecting Genetic Resources (131-152)

5. The Science of Managing Genetic Resources (153-172)

6. Using Genetic Resources (173-188)

7. Biotechnology and Germplasm Conservation (189-204)

8. Documentation of Genetic Resources (205-218)

9. The Conservation of Genetic Stock Collections (219-238)

10. The Genetic Resources of Microorganisms (239-256)

Part II: Policy Issues (257-258)

11. Exchange of Genetic Resources: Quarantine (259-278)

12. Exchange of Genetic Resources: Proprietary Rights (279-302)

13. Genetic Resources: Assessing Economic Value (303-320)

14. Conflicts Over Ownership, Management, and Use (321-346)

15. National and International Programs (347-380)

References (381-406)

Glossary (407-414)

Abbreviations (415-418)

Authors (419-422)

Index (423-452)