b'SINCE YOU ASKEDBY: NIELS LOUWAARSCAN WE INTRODUCE ACCESS AND BURDEN SHARINGT heConventiononBiological Diversity (CBD), coined in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, declared that genetic resources fall under the sovereignty of nations and therefore that nations have the task to conserve and promote sustaina-ble use of biological diversity and have the right to equitable sharing of benefits. It is conceptually justifiable that you can ask for a share of the benefits when you have something valuable to share. That is true for leasing a house, some hectares of agricultural land, or a car. Benefits arising out of the use of the car flow to the owner through the lease agreement. However, when there is something wrong with the car, it is obvious that the owner is liable to take the burden of repairing it. Even though genetic resources have developed in situ long before national borders were drawn, one could argue that governments may claim benefits for plant genetic resources when they appear to have a value in breeding. We all know that even though morally justifiable, the implemen-tation of this concept has some significant challenges, largely because the value of the genetic resource is rather intangible sinceresistances in crops, they need access to thehumanity can be shared using a benefit it appears only when combined with otherdiversity of pathogens. They have to contactsharing systemi.e. a bonus; those that genetic materials. The international treatythe national focal point and negotiate accesshave a negative impact should fall under a provides leeway for a certain section of plantto such pathogens with the national author- burden-sharing agreementi.e. a malus. genetic resources for food and agriculture,ities, conclude Prior Informed Consent andSuch bonus/malus arrangement would but further debates show that the decisionMutually Agreed Terms for their use. Thisthus be justifiable. of 1992 is more complex than the lease oftime-consuming exercise should end withOf course, there is the Pandemic a car. a Material Transfer Agreement whichInfluenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework The CBD relates to all biological diver- commonly includes some form of payment.on the exchange and use of influenza sity, also to (plant-) pathogens. They fallHow logical is this??? The disease agent hasviruses and Covid showed that there is an under the same convention of the obligationa negative benefit, so the owner, the countryurgent need to discuss a wider arrangement. of countries to conserve diversity and pro- where the disease obtained its specific traitsThese discussions suffer from a very restric-mote sustainable use and equitable benefitthat contribute to the countrys biologicaltive viewpoint - only for other viruses with sharing. Some problems arise here, startingdiversity, could well be held liable for allow- pandemic potentialand they dont take with quarantine measures that aim at exter- ing this pathogen to develop and spread.into account the damages that the countries minating certain pests and diseasesnoIt should ideally be made responsible forof origin are liable to.speak of conservation here! If not extermi- exterminating the disease in all affectedBiodiversity is not only a positive nated, we have to live with them and designcountries or at least be liable for damages.thing. Countries that harbor such negative all kinds of crop protection measures. BothNational sovereign rights should, when youbiodiversity should negotiate burden shar-these options are complex and very costly.want to trade some of it, come with nationaling! And those who contribute to reducing So, lets agree that such pathogens, thatsovereign liabilities, just like those of thethe malus, should get a bonus. part of biodiversity, have a negative value.company leasing a car.When breeders try to provide for a sustaina- So, I propose to introduce a bonus/ Niels Louwaars is the Managing Director at ble way to mitigate such negative value, andmalussystemforgeneticresources.Plantum. This article does not necessarily reflect they want to perform bioassays to identifyResources that contribute positively tothe views of all Plantum members.NOVEMBER 2024|SEEDWORLD.COM/EUROPEISEED WORLD EUROPE I 35'