Issues in Agricultural Biodiversity: Farmers' Crop Varieties and Farmers' Rights : Challenges in Taxonomy and Law (2016, Hardcover) by download FB2, DOC, MOBI
9781844078905 1844078906 Crop plant varieties developed by local farmers, commonly referred to as 'farmers' varieties', are a problematic subject, because there are no fixed taxonomic or legal definitions of them. As a result, policies to increase the share of benefits farmers receive from the use of such varieties struggle to have an effect. Aiming to clarifying these issues, this volume begins with the biological and social complexities of defining what 'farmers' varieties' are, and how they differ from one another and from generic varieties. Alongside this, the book charts the evolution of the concept of 'Farmer's rights', from the dawn of 'genetic resources' as a subject worthy of international attention, to the first legal recognition of the concept in an international treaty in 2001, through to current efforts to develop national level policies and laws. Finally, the book examines outstanding policy-making challenges linked to the absence of fixed taxonomic or legal definitions of farmers' varieties. Various solutions are considered, based on revised or new definitions of farmers' varieties that reflect the biological and cultural realities in which they are produced, and the relative costs and benefits of attempting to implement each of the policies discussed. The book takes in to account the manner in which public debate concerning policy options has evolved over the course of the last 20 years, and how that evolution compares with actual experiences of implementing those policies. This treatment includes case studies of actual situations 'in the field' where farmers, researchers and policy advocates have been confronted with the issues raised in this book., Over the last 50 years there has been a growing appreciation of the important role that farmers play in the development and conservation of crop genetic diversity, and the contribution of that diversity to agro-ecosystem resilience and food security. This book examines policies that aim to increase the share of benefits that farmers receive when others use the crop varieties that they have developed and managed, i.e., 'farmers varieties'. In so doing, the book addresses two fundamental questions. The first question is 'how do farmer management practices - along with other factors such as environment and the breeding systems of plants - affect the evolution and maintenance of discrete farmers' varieties?' The second question is 'how can policies that depend on being able to identify discrete plant varieties accommodate the agricultural realities associated with the generation, use and maintenance of farmers' varieties?' This focus on discreteness is topical because there are no fixed, internationally recognized taxonomic or legal definitions of farmers' varieties. And that presents a challenge when developing policies that involve making specific, discrete farmers' varieties the subject of legal rights or privileges. The book includes contributions from a wide range of experts including agronomists, anthropologists, geneticists, biologists, plant breeders, lawyers, development practitioners, activists and farmers. It includes case studies from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe where, in response to a diversity of contributing factors, there have been efforts to develop policies that provide incentives or rewards to farmers as stewards of farmers' varieties in ways that are sensitive to the cultural, taxonomic and legal complexities involved. The book situates these initiatives in the context of the evolving discourse and definition of 'farmers' rights', presenting insights for future policy initiatives., This book is about crop plant varieties developed by local farmers - commonly referred to as farmers' varieties - and policies to increase the share of benefits farmers receive from the use of those varieties. This subject is problematic because there are no fixed taxonomic or legal definitions of farmers' varieties. The book aims to clarify the issues by examining: " biological and social complexities involved in answering the questions, 'What is a farmers' variety?' and 'How can you tell them apart?' " the evolution of the concept of 'Farmers rights,' starting from the dawn of 'genetic resources' as a subject worthy of international attention, to the first legal recognition of the concept of Farmers Rights in an international treaty in 2001, through to current efforts to develop national level policies and laws" outstanding policy-making challenges linked to the absence of fixed taxonomic or legal definitions of farmers' varieties. Various solutions are considered, based on revised or new definitions of farmers' varieties that reflect the biological and cultural realities in which they are produced, and the relative costs and benefits of attempting to implement each of the policies considered " the manner in which public debate concerning the policy options considered in the book has evolved over the course of the last 20 years, and how that evolution compares with actual experiences implementing those policies. " case studies of actual situations 'in the field' where farmers, researchers and policy advocates have been confronted with the issues raised in this book., This book is about crop plant varieties developed by local farmers--commonly referred to as farmers' varieties--and policies to increase the share of benefits farmers receive from the use of those varieties. This subject is problematic because there are no fixed taxonomic or legal definitions of farmers' varieties. The book examines: * biological and social complexities involved in answering the questions, 'What is a farmers' variety?' and 'How can you tell them apart?' * the evolution of the concept of Farmers rights, starting from the dawn of genetic resources as a subject worthy of international attention, to the first legal recognition of the concept of Farmers Rights in an international treaty in 2001, through to current efforts to develop national level policies and laws * outstanding policy-making challenges linked to the absence of fixed taxonomic or legal definitions of farmers' varieties * the manner in which public debate concerning the policy options considered in the book has evolved over the course of the last 20 years, and how that evolution compares with actual experiences implementing those policies * case studies of actual situations 'in the field' where farmers, researchers and policy advocates have been confronted with the issues raised in this book.
9781844078905 1844078906 Crop plant varieties developed by local farmers, commonly referred to as 'farmers' varieties', are a problematic subject, because there are no fixed taxonomic or legal definitions of them. As a result, policies to increase the share of benefits farmers receive from the use of such varieties struggle to have an effect. Aiming to clarifying these issues, this volume begins with the biological and social complexities of defining what 'farmers' varieties' are, and how they differ from one another and from generic varieties. Alongside this, the book charts the evolution of the concept of 'Farmer's rights', from the dawn of 'genetic resources' as a subject worthy of international attention, to the first legal recognition of the concept in an international treaty in 2001, through to current efforts to develop national level policies and laws. Finally, the book examines outstanding policy-making challenges linked to the absence of fixed taxonomic or legal definitions of farmers' varieties. Various solutions are considered, based on revised or new definitions of farmers' varieties that reflect the biological and cultural realities in which they are produced, and the relative costs and benefits of attempting to implement each of the policies discussed. The book takes in to account the manner in which public debate concerning policy options has evolved over the course of the last 20 years, and how that evolution compares with actual experiences of implementing those policies. This treatment includes case studies of actual situations 'in the field' where farmers, researchers and policy advocates have been confronted with the issues raised in this book., Over the last 50 years there has been a growing appreciation of the important role that farmers play in the development and conservation of crop genetic diversity, and the contribution of that diversity to agro-ecosystem resilience and food security. This book examines policies that aim to increase the share of benefits that farmers receive when others use the crop varieties that they have developed and managed, i.e., 'farmers varieties'. In so doing, the book addresses two fundamental questions. The first question is 'how do farmer management practices - along with other factors such as environment and the breeding systems of plants - affect the evolution and maintenance of discrete farmers' varieties?' The second question is 'how can policies that depend on being able to identify discrete plant varieties accommodate the agricultural realities associated with the generation, use and maintenance of farmers' varieties?' This focus on discreteness is topical because there are no fixed, internationally recognized taxonomic or legal definitions of farmers' varieties. And that presents a challenge when developing policies that involve making specific, discrete farmers' varieties the subject of legal rights or privileges. The book includes contributions from a wide range of experts including agronomists, anthropologists, geneticists, biologists, plant breeders, lawyers, development practitioners, activists and farmers. It includes case studies from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe where, in response to a diversity of contributing factors, there have been efforts to develop policies that provide incentives or rewards to farmers as stewards of farmers' varieties in ways that are sensitive to the cultural, taxonomic and legal complexities involved. The book situates these initiatives in the context of the evolving discourse and definition of 'farmers' rights', presenting insights for future policy initiatives., This book is about crop plant varieties developed by local farmers - commonly referred to as farmers' varieties - and policies to increase the share of benefits farmers receive from the use of those varieties. This subject is problematic because there are no fixed taxonomic or legal definitions of farmers' varieties. The book aims to clarify the issues by examining: " biological and social complexities involved in answering the questions, 'What is a farmers' variety?' and 'How can you tell them apart?' " the evolution of the concept of 'Farmers rights,' starting from the dawn of 'genetic resources' as a subject worthy of international attention, to the first legal recognition of the concept of Farmers Rights in an international treaty in 2001, through to current efforts to develop national level policies and laws" outstanding policy-making challenges linked to the absence of fixed taxonomic or legal definitions of farmers' varieties. Various solutions are considered, based on revised or new definitions of farmers' varieties that reflect the biological and cultural realities in which they are produced, and the relative costs and benefits of attempting to implement each of the policies considered " the manner in which public debate concerning the policy options considered in the book has evolved over the course of the last 20 years, and how that evolution compares with actual experiences implementing those policies. " case studies of actual situations 'in the field' where farmers, researchers and policy advocates have been confronted with the issues raised in this book., This book is about crop plant varieties developed by local farmers--commonly referred to as farmers' varieties--and policies to increase the share of benefits farmers receive from the use of those varieties. This subject is problematic because there are no fixed taxonomic or legal definitions of farmers' varieties. The book examines: * biological and social complexities involved in answering the questions, 'What is a farmers' variety?' and 'How can you tell them apart?' * the evolution of the concept of Farmers rights, starting from the dawn of genetic resources as a subject worthy of international attention, to the first legal recognition of the concept of Farmers Rights in an international treaty in 2001, through to current efforts to develop national level policies and laws * outstanding policy-making challenges linked to the absence of fixed taxonomic or legal definitions of farmers' varieties * the manner in which public debate concerning the policy options considered in the book has evolved over the course of the last 20 years, and how that evolution compares with actual experiences implementing those policies * case studies of actual situations 'in the field' where farmers, researchers and policy advocates have been confronted with the issues raised in this book.