Genetic resources means genetic material of actual or potential value where genetic material means any material of plant, animal, microbial or other origin containing functional units of heredity...[1] Genetic resources thus refer to the part of genetic diversity that has or could have practical use, such as in plant breeding. The term was introduced by Otto Frankel and Erna Bennett for a technical conference on the exploration, utilization and conservation of plant genetic resources, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the International Biological Program (IBP), held in Rome, Italy, 18–26 September 1967.[2]
Under the CBD, discussions and negotiations regarding genetic resources are organized by the FAO Commission of Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. This commission distinguishes the following domains of genetic resources:
Genetic resources are threatened by genetic erosion and conservation activities are undertaken to prevent loss of diversity.
History
Before the introduction of the term, the Russian scientist Nikolai Vavilov initiated comprehensive studies on plant genetic resources and conservation work in the 1920’s. The American botanist Jack Harlan stressed the tight link between plant genetic resources and man in a seminal publication "Crops and Man".[5]
Methodologies for conservation of genetic resources
There are two complementary ways to conserve genetics resources:
in situ, which consists in managing populations on-site, dynamically evolving in their natural environment.[6][7]In situ methodologies include:
conservation in natural populations (in nature)
on farm conservation
ex situ, which consists in conserving individuals or populations out of their natural environments. Ex situgene bank methodologies include:
Policies are key to ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from the use of genetic resources, for present and future generations. The main international policy framework that regulates genetic resources exchange and use is the Nagoya Protocol which entered into force in 2014. It defines and protects the owners of genetic resources and it sets the rules for Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS)[9]
Peer-reviewed literature
The following scientific journals are dedicated to the topic of genetic resources conservation and sustainable use:
^Bennett, E (1968). Record of the FAO/IBP technical conference on the exploration, utilization and conservation of plant genetic resources, held in Rome, Italy, 18-26 September 1967. Rome: s.n. OCLC67370666.
^Harlan, Jack R. (Jack Rodney) (1992). Crops & man (2nd ed.). Madison, Wis., USA: American Society of Agronomy. ISBN0-89118-107-5. OCLC25049739.
^In vivo conservation of animal genetic resources. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations., Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome. 2013. ISBN978-92-5-107725-2. OCLC878605883.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
^Voluntary guidelines for the conservation and sustainable use of crop wild relatives and wild food plants. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations,, Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome. 5 June 2018. ISBN978-92-5-109919-3. OCLC1013590768.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link)
^A Guide to effective management of germplasm collections. Engels, Jan., Visser, L., International Plant Genetic Resources Institute. Rome, Italy: IPGRI. 2003. ISBN92-9043-582-8. OCLC55495656.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
