Biopiracy by another name? A critique of the FAO-CGIAR trusteeship system.

The International Rice Research Institute in Los Baños holds the worlds best collection of rice varieties with over half a million varieties from 110 countries.

The collection is threatened by private profit.

In 1994 IRRI, and its fellow international research centers the CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research) entered into an agreement with the Food and Agriculture Organization to protect the seeds in trust for humanity. The agreement is to be review and renewed this month.

NGOs say that the agreement needs a complete overhaul. There are no provisions for enforcement of the agreement and it does not protect farmers' rights or recognize their contribution in originally breeding the seeds that are now kept in the bank.

The controversy of Jasmine Rice is an example of how things can go wrong. The special Thai rice was send to the US in violation of the agreement and against the wishes of Thai farmers. Huge protests erupted as the Thai people demanded that their heritage not be patented for profit.

Full Article can be requested from: Genetic Resources Action International (GRAIN)
Abstract compiled by: MASIPAG