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Endowing future harvest: The long-term costs of conserving genetic resources at the CGIAR centers

By: Contributor(s): Material type: TextTextPublication details: Mexico, DF (Mexico) CIMMYT : 2003Description: p. 55ISBN:
  • 970-648-076-5
Subject(s): DDC classification:
  • 338.91 WAT
Summary: The eleven Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) gene banks have grown considerably in size over the past few decades, currently holding over 660/000 accessions of germplasm. Conserving germplasm is a long-term, if not in perpetuity, proposition. Hence, the mismatch between the predominantly annual financial support for this conservation effort and its long-term aims is a serious concern. Using the results of five CGIAR gene bank case studies, this study estimates the size of an endowment or stewardship fund, the earnings from which would assure a funding stream to conserve this genetic material for future generations. It is estimated that the annual cost of conserving and distributing genetic material presently held in the CGIAR gene banks is US$5.7 million/year, and a commitment to underwrite these core gene bank services for the benefit of all future generations could be met by setting aside a fund of US$149 million (invested at a real rate of interest of 4%/yr). This would be sufficient to underwrite the CGIAR's current conservation activities in perpetuity (estimated to be US$61 million), as well as maintain the distribution activities (US$88 million) that provide germplasm to breeders, scientists, farmers, and others worldwide.
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Abstract only

The eleven Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) gene banks have grown considerably in size over the past few decades, currently holding over 660/000 accessions of germplasm. Conserving germplasm is a long-term, if not in perpetuity, proposition. Hence, the mismatch between the predominantly annual financial support for this conservation effort and its long-term aims is a serious concern. Using the results of five CGIAR gene bank case studies, this study estimates the size of an endowment or stewardship fund, the earnings from which would assure a funding stream to conserve this genetic material for future generations. It is estimated that the annual cost of conserving and distributing genetic material presently held in the CGIAR gene banks is US$5.7 million/year, and a commitment to underwrite these core gene bank services for the benefit of all future generations could be met by setting aside a fund of US$149 million (invested at a real rate of interest of 4%/yr). This would be sufficient to underwrite the CGIAR's current conservation activities in perpetuity (estimated to be US$61 million), as well as maintain the distribution activities (US$88 million) that provide germplasm to breeders, scientists, farmers, and others worldwide.

English

0310|R01CIMPU|AGRIS 0301|AL-Economics Program

Juan Carlos Mendieta

CIMMYT Publications Collection


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