Plant Genetic Resources

This genetic resources impact study was commissioned as part of a general impact study on all aspects of agricultural research and development within the CGIAR organization. Since the term genetic resources often means different things to different people, the first part of this report gives a discussion on the subject and attempts to define the terminology in general use. The second part of the report describes the genetic resources activities of the international centres and of the International Board of Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR). It also attempts to evaluate the impacts of each stage in the genetic resources chain. The third part sums up the work, assesses its strengths and weaknesses, and makes suggestions for future development. The writer concludes that genetic resources are being made freely available to those who request them. The International Board of Plant Genetic Resources is promoting and developing the use of genetic resources materials, and IARC breeders are taking full advantage of the germplasm available to them, passing breeding lines and selections to national programmes for further trials and, where appropriate, releasing new varieties with better yields, adaptation and resistances than those previously available.