The conservation of genetic resources is vital to the maintenance of biodiversity and to the world's ability to feed its growing population. There are now more than 1,000 genebanks worldwide involved in the ex situ (meaning -away from the source-) storage of particular classes of crops. Since the 1970s, the 11 genebanks maintained by the centers of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) have become pivotal to the global conservation effort. However, key policy and management issues - usually with economic dimensions - have largely been overlooked.

The conservation of genetic resources is vital to the maintenance of biodiversity and to the world's ability to feed its growing population. There are...