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Challenges in genetic resources policy making: some lessons from participatory policy research with a special reference to Ethiopia

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Abstract

It is widely recognized that developing countries lack technical and institutional capacity to effectively implement genetic resources policy. This has led Bioversity International (the then IPGRI) to initiate a project called Genetic Resources Policy Initiative (GRPI) in six countries (Ethiopia, Egypt, Zambia, Peru, Vietnam and Nepal). Drawing from the literature and experiences of this project, this paper has attempted to document some of the lessons from the project and present the issues and challenges that need to be addressed for effective genetic resources policy. Recognizing its cross-cutting nature, the paper has argued that genetic resources policy has to be part of the broader development agenda to effectively deal with trade-offs and harmonize the conflicts. Essentially, the important policy question is to strike the balance and simultaneously promote the diversity of genetic resources and welfare outcomes. The major thrust of GRPI has been the multi-disciplinary, -sectoral, and -stakeholder (3M) approach. Despite all its theoretical merits, its implementation has been a serious challenge in practice. This has, among others, been due to ‘‘A project for all is a project for none’’ dilemma. Engaging decision makers in 3M deliberations has revealed that many of them tend to think that maintaining genetic diversity promotes traditional farming and retards agricultural development. Clearly, addressing each of these challenges and policy loopholes requires innovation in a diversity of institutions.

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Abbreviations

CBD:

The convention on biological diversity

GRPI:

Genetic resources policy initiative

IBC:

Institute of biodiversity conservation

IPGRI:

International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (now Bioversity—International)

3M:

Multi-disciplinary, multi-sectoral, and multi-stakeholder

MoARD:

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

TF:

Task force

TRIPS:

Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights

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Acknowledgments

The author wishes to acknowledge the support and assistance of the GRPI-project and its partners. The helpful comments on the previous version of one anonymous reviewer of the journal are gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Policy Unit, Bioversity International, c/o World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya

    Edilegnaw Wale

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  1. Edilegnaw Wale
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Correspondence to Edilegnaw Wale.

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Wale, E. Challenges in genetic resources policy making: some lessons from participatory policy research with a special reference to Ethiopia. Biodivers Conserv 17, 21–33 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-007-9225-z

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