Plant breeding research in developing countries: what roles for the public and private sectors?

Abstract

This chapter questions the continued need for public plant breeding programmes in developing countries and discusses their future role. The following factors driving the changes taking place in the plant breeding industry are identified: the commercialization of agriculture; the privatization of national seed industries; the strengthening of intellectual property rights; and the erosion in public research capacity. Based on the presence or absence of commercial incentives, 'natural domains' for public and private plant breeding programmes are defined. It is suggested that the role of public plant breeding programmes in developing countries should be based on three guiding principles: (1) rely on market-based solutions when possible; (2) ensure that markets remain competitive; and (3) complement rather than compete with private firms. It is further suggested that the public sector should concentrate on five essential functions that the private sector is likely to perform at socially suboptimal levels: (1) genetic improvement for specific products, crops, and traits; (2) conservation of genetic resources; (3) training of plant breeders; (4) varietal testing and evaluation; and (5) biosafety regulation. Institutional challenges for public plant breeding programmes are discussed as well.

Priorities for enhancing the ex situ conservation and use of Australian crop wild relatives

“…These efforts have traditionally been performed by the public sector, whose activities have been curtailed in recent decades due to decreasing funding (Morris et al 2006). Renewed support is thus very much needed for public and public-private partnership programs that tackle the initial challenge of introducing genes of interest from wild relatives into domesticated materials and making these materials available to the agricultural research community.…”

The potential benefits of herbicide-resistant transgenic rice in Uruguay: Lessons for small developing countries

“…National institutions at the same time benefit from knowledge transfer. Morris and Ekasingh (2002) also suggest access to public germplasm as a R&D subsidy for seed companies. Further research is needed to link public-private research investment strategies to unit cost reductions from new varieties.…”

Vegetable Seed Availability and Implications for Developing Countries

“…The influence of wealthier, developed countries has definitely had an influence on vegetable seed availability in developing countries. The commercialization and globalization of agriculture, coupled with the privatization of the plant breeding industry in recent years, has had a direct effect on the vegetable varieties available to farmers in developing countries (Morris and Ekasingh, 2002). However, we should not forget that the research, production, distribution and sales of vegetable seed have a tremendous influence on providing numerous jobs in both developed and developing countries.…”