| Code of Conduct Set for the Exchange of Rice Varieties |
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| Saturday, 14 December 2002 | |
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Los Baños - The world’s major rice-producing nations have newly adopted an informal code of conduct governing the exchange of varieties and germplasm. The aim is to ensure they can continue to have access to new rice varieties and so protect the livelihoods and food security of their citizens.<br> The move follows decisions by a number of rice-producing nations to introduce plant variety protection (PVP) legislation aimed at defending their biological resources, including unique rice varieties. It also comes amid growing concern expressed by many people that not enough is being done to protect the biological resources of the developing world. <br> However, rice scientists are concerned that restrictions imposed as a result of new PVP and intellectual property rights (IPR) legislation, if not properly handled, may restrict the free exchange of genetic material, or seeds, needed by scientists to develop improved rice varieties for farmers. This is because PVP and IPR laws could, for the first time, introduce into the Asian rice industry the concept of exclusive ownership. <br> While the idea of one company owning a popular variety is well established in crops such as wheat and maize, this is still relatively unknown in most Asian countries, where even newly developed varieties are nearly always made freely available to all farmers. However, with the increasing use of biotechnology and the implementation of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) new rules and regulations, such traditions are changing fast. <br> The issue and impact of PVP and IPR legislation was at the top of the agenda of the fifth annual meeting of the Council for Partnership on Rice Research in Asia (CORRA), an informal grouping sponsored by the Philippine-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). This year’s meeting of CORRA was held in Bangkok last month and attracted senior rice research representatives from the world’s 15 top rice-producing nations. <br> The director of Indonesia’s Central Research Institute for Food Crops, Andi Hasanuddin, said that while it was important for every country to be able to protect its unique biological resources as effectively as possible, it was also important to allow the appropriate sharing of rice germplasm so that new varieties could be developed for the benefit of farmers everywhere. Dr. Hasanuddin represented the CORRA chairman, Joko Budianto (who is also from Indonesia), at the Bangkok meeting. <br> Dr. Hasanuddin said that, in response to the challenges facing rice researchers, the CORRA meeting had agreed to adopt an informal code of conduct for the exchange and sharing of rice varieties. For more than 20 years, a scientific network known as the International Network for the Genetic Evaluation of Rice (INGER) has been the backbone of a large and successful program that has allowed scientists and researchers around the world to freely exchange rice varieties. The new code of conduct will be applied to INGER and its operations in order to expand the gains already made. <br> Noting that it would be difficult to enforce the code, Dr. Hasanuddin stressed that it was important to establish a set of basic standards for germplasm exchange, because of the heightened value countries were placing on their rice varieties. INGER, formerly known as the International Rice Testing Program (IRTP), was created in 1975 as an informal partnership among the national agricultural research systems (NARS) of the world’s main rice-producing nations. It also includes several international agricultural research centers (IARCs), such as IRRI, and focuses exclusively on rice germplasm exchange and utilization. <br> INGER’s mandate is to facilitate the unrestricted, free and safe multilateral exchange and utilization of rice germplasm, as well as the free sharing of INGER’s genetic materials and related information. INGER is also expected to address specifically the needs and priorities of the NARS and to promote the exchange of germplasm among them and the IARCs.<br> Since the network’s foundation, INGER breeding materials have been used to develop more than 570 rice varieties released in 62 countries. In many cases, access to INGER’s elite breeding materials has allowed nations to save up to five years in developing varieties through their own breeding programs, thereby maximizing their utilization of precious financial and human resources. While most rice-producing nations have benefited from INGER, it is the poorest countries—those with the least developed research capacity—that have benefited the most. These include nations such as Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar. <br> Under the new code, INGER’s broad policies and direction will be guided by an INGER Advisory Council mostly made up of CORRA representatives. A Technical Advisory Committee composed of selected IRRI and NARS representatives will provide additional guidance on technical matters. Above all, the code requires INGER to be transparent in all its activities. <br> In the code’s section on the role of the NARS, the following guidelines have been laid down: The NARS will continue to provide outstanding varieties and breeding materials for worldwide exchange. The NARS will designate institutions for germplasm exchange and lead research institutions in implementing the INGER program in their respective countries. The NARS will designate a national INGER coordinator who will be the key contact person for variety nominations, consolidated nursery requests (types of nursery, number of sets, testing sites, cooperators), and processing import permit requirements. In implementing the INGER program, the NARS may decide to work with private breeding institutions in their respective countries. Additionally, the code lays down the following guidelines for INGER-distributed germplasm:<br> The types of materials that can be nominated by the NARS and IARCs to INGER nurseries are traditional and released varieties, advanced breeding lines, and segregating populations. Hybrids can be accepted by INGER only if the inbred parents are also nominated for testing. Genetically modified rice populations will be accepted for evaluation only when INGER’s NARS partners have the necessary facilities and guidelines for testing. INGER will accept materials from private breeding institutions nominated by the NARS. <br> All materials nominated to INGER nurseries shall be accompanied by a material transfer agreement (MTA). All material distributed by INGER shall be accompanied by an MTA for FAO-designated germplasm and/or an MTA for non-designated germplasm, regardless of the seeds’ source country or institution. Outstanding entries in nurseries will be stored in the International Rice Genebank (IRG) at IRRI. They will be available for seed distribution when needed. They may or may not be designated to the FAO, according to the decision of the country that provided the materials concerned. <br> Finally, the code lays down guidelines on the utilization of INGER-developed rice varieties. These include: Any entry in the INGER nursery may be released as a variety or used as a parent in hybridization, provided that the national program doing so simply inform IRRI and acknowledge the origin and seed source of the selected materials. <br> The naming of an INGER variety to be released in a country should be made in consultation with the variety source. For FAO-designated accessions, a recipient may not obtain intellectual property rights (IPR) on the germplasm or related information. For non-designated germplasm, the source of the materials reserves the right to allow or refuse permission for a recipient to seek any form of IPR on the material or related information.<br> INGER will document the utilization of INGER genetic materials by the NARS. IRRI is the world’s leading international rice research and training center. Based in the Philippines and with offices in 11 other countries, it is an autonomous, nonprofit institution focused on improving the well-being of present and future generations of rice farmers and consumers, particularly those with low incomes, while preserving natural resources. IRRI is one of 16 Future Harvest centers funded the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), an association of public and private donor agencies.<br> For more information, visit the websites of CGIAR (www.cgiar.org) or Future Harvest (www.futureharvest.org). Future Harvest is a nonprofit organization that builds awareness and supports food and environmental research for a world with less poverty, a healthier human family, well-nourished children, and a better environment. Future Harvest supports research, promotes partnerships, and sponsors projects that bring the results of agricultural research to rural communities, farmers, and families in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. |