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Title: POLICIES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES

Author
item Blackburn, Harvey
item MEZZADRA, C. - INSTITUTO NACIONAL TECNOL

Submitted to: World Congress of Genetics Applied in Livestock Production
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/10/2006
Publication Date: 8/14/2006
Citation: Blackburn, H.D., Mezzadra, C. 2006. Policies for the management of animal genetic resources. 8th World Congress of Genetics Applied in Livestock Production. 33(2):1-7.

Interpretive Summary: The breadth of animal genetic resources (AnGR) has contracted globally. This contraction comes at a time when the global livestock sector needs to be rapidly expanding. Some have estimated that total meat consumption in the developing world will increase from 88 million metric tons in 1993 to 188 million metric tons in 2020, a 4.2% per year increase. To meet this demand will require AnGR policies be put in the context of incentives to produce, securing the resource base, and providing access to markets for inputs and outputs. Key policies of quantifying genetic resources based upon life-time productivity, database development, ex-situ/cryopreserved collections, and increased breeder capacity contribute to making informed choices concerning genetic resource use and conservation. To make significant strides in conserving AnGR will require: a clear statement of the value of AnGR; supporting breeders in making informed choices about AnGR use; development of ex-situ/cryopreserved germplasm collections; and placing AnGR policies in the context of larger national agendas.

Technical Abstract: The antagonism between national livestock sector economic growth and development and the in-situ/in-vivo conservation of animal genetic resources (AnGR) create a need for a policy framework that will promote both economic growth and AnGR conservation for future generations. It is suggested that policies concerning AnGR be put in the context of three categories: incentives to produce, securing the resource base, and providing access to markets for inputs and outputs. Key policies of quantifying genetic resources based upon life-time productivity, database development, ex-situ/cryopreserved collections, and increased breeder capacity contribute to making informed choices concerning genetic resource use and conservation. To make significant strides in conserving, AnGR will require: a clear statement of the value of AnGR; supporting breeders in making informed choices about AnGR use; development of ex-situ/cryopreserved germplasm collections; and placing AnGR policies in the context of larger national agendas.