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RESOURCES:
Valuing Farmers' Rights
Gollin, D, (1998) Valuing Farmers'
Rights Pp. 233-245 in R. Evenson, D. Gollin & V. Santaniello (eds)
(1998): Agricultural Values of Plant Genetic Resources (Wallingford:
FAO/CEIS/CABI Publishing) |
Summary
This book chapter argues
that there are significant potential hazards to the South in seeking to
establish a system of farmers' rights based on intellectual property rights or
other forms of property rights.
The point of departure for the analysis
is the international flows of genetic resources, which have been
multi-directional between the South and the North, the South and the South, and
the North and the North. Gollin proceeds to a detailed analysis of the
international flows of genetic resources in rice and its implications for the
question of compensation. The great majority of the rice varieties covered by
the study (1709 varieties) were developed using breeding lines from outside the
country of release. Most countries in the study were found to be net borrowers
of landraces. Large importers of germplasm with regard to the varieties dealt
with here are Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Nigeria and Vietnam. Under a
compensation system, they would be the losers, whereas for example the United
States would be a winner, since it is a large exporter of rice germplasm.
However, the author warns against drawing general conclusions on the basis of
the data, due to some methodological problems. Rather, the results should be
seen as illustrating some important empirical questions relating to gainers and
losers under farmers' rights - if these are understood as property rights. The
basic conclusion is that there is no guarantee that the South would gain from
such a system. |
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