CBN-V Video Archives - RT1/S2
CBN-V: Roundtable I
Biodiversity
Co-chairs: Rob Bertram and Marcio Porto

A large number of CBN-V attendees participated in a lively group discussion on Monday, November 5, 2001 on biological diversity of the genus Manihot and its relationship to research on cassava, especially that involving biological diversity. A summary of the discussion and emerging recommendations is presented here.

Importance of Biodiversity: There was a clear consensus that biotechnology affords researchers new opportunities to characterize and use a wider range of diversity in the genus Manihot than ever before. Few other major crops have such an extensive phenotypic variation, with species ranging from small herbs to forest trees. This extensive morphological and environmental diversity presents major challenges in conserving and utilizing related species in research and breeding. Most of the discussion focused on the South American members of the genus, but an important secondary center of diversity exists in Mesoamerica.

Discussion was not limited to wild species of the genus. New and potentially significant diversity has been found in M. esculenta that is of broad interest.

The Policy Context: a New International Treaty: On November 3, 2001, the FAO Conference adopted a new International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. A key feature of the new treaty is its designation of some 35 crop species for special access provisions, known as “facilitated access”, under a new Multilateral System in which crop genetic resources, information and benefits would be widely shared within the international community. The species were selected based on two key criteria, a critical role in food security and interdependence with respect to genetic resources.

Cassava, but not the related species in the genus Manhiot, was included on the crop list. Thus, access to ex-situ cassava germplasm will likely continue to be open and fairly non-bureaucratic. Access to wild species and in-situ material of any of the species will be subject to national legistation, which will likely be handled on a bilateral basis and governed according to the Convention on Biological Diversity (e.g., prior informed consent, mutually agreed terms, benefit sharing). Although the reasons for the exclusion of the wild relatives of cassava have not been clearly stated, the richness of the genus and its inclusion of many non-agricultural species of unknown potential may have led to their being left off the treaty list.

A Period of Uncertainty: Cassava researchers interested working with the wild species of Manihot will face a period of uncertainty with respect to how to share wild and in-situ materials with other researchers or, conversely, how to access them from other researchers. The policy situation in Brazil, which includes most of the primary center of Manihot diversity, is rapidly evolving. At present, any germplasm leaving the country must be accompanied by a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) or a research and development contract. The discussion did not feature comments about access provisions in other countries with significant Manihot resources, but it would not be surprising for a similar situation, with little exchange of biodiversity featured, to develop while new regulations are being developed.

The group agreed that the development of a coherent strategy on genetic resources, which demonstrated shared interests among researchers across national boundaries would have a positive impact on the rapidly developing policy situation. Research agreements that clarified and protected the interests of all parties involved would help to move us back towards a system of more readily available access to germplasm.

Special Conservation Needs: The group discussed the difficulties and costs associated with efforts to conserve biological diversity of cassava’s wild relatives. Wild species may have exacting climatic and soil requirements, making the management of long-term field collections a challenging enterprise. Despite these challenges, in Brazil and at CIAT, some field collections of wild materials are maintained. There was a significant collection of Mexican species near Chilpancingo, but the status of the collection is not known at present.

In most instances, the numbers of accessions conserved for any given species is small. Molecular techniques are very useful for estimating the amount of diversity held within accessions being conserved. In some cases, a larger sampling could be important.

Other strategies include the use of crop relative reserves, but again these could be expensive and would involve significant planning and political will. The task is further complicated by the fact that a certain amount of disturbance (by animals, fire, etc.) is thought to be a critical element in ecology of some Manihot species.

Conservation Priorities: In view of both uncertainty about the state of conservation for many species in the genus, the group suggested that species warranting special attention for conservation (in-situ, in field collections, ex-situ, etc.) could be determined and priorities set. This would require in-depth consultation among researchers, curators and others with knowledge of the distribution and status of cassava relatives. Both South American and Mesoamerican species’ conservation needs should be considered.

Information System: In addition to clarifying conservation needs and policies having a bearing on collection, exchange and use of cassava genetic resources, the group concluded that an information system, even if only an informal data base, would be a useful addition to cassava researchers and to the CBN. Possible contributors to such an information system included the International Centers, EMBRAPA, CBN and other organizations with an interest in cassava genetic resources.

Phytosanitary Needs: Traditional issues, such as plant health associated with germplasm distribution, remain important. Tissue culture and in-vitro exchange presents special requirements to ensure that fungal or other species are not accidentally introduced.

Summary Recommendation: A Biodiversity Workshop. Several key areas emerged as needing more attention: 1) exchange of biodiversity; 2) conservation status and priorities; and, 3) associated information on conserved materials and how to access them.

In view of these problems, several of which were considered to require urgent attention, the group proposed that a small workshop be held on cassava biodiversity. The suggested venue for the workshop was Brazil, with the timing sometime early in 2002. The workshop would examine challenges with access to, and exchange of, germplasm, priority for conservation among and within species of Manihot, and the development of information system to provide researchers and curators with better, up-to-date information on cassava genetic resources.

The potential to attract donor support was considered fairly good, in particular because the workshop would represent an early attempt by an international research group to develop an understanding among scientists, in the hope of informing policy-makers in the era of the new International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The fact that cassava, but not its wild relatives, will receive facilitated access under the treaty makes the treatment of the conservation and use of its wild relatives a timely issue for the global agricultural research community. Several donor and development agencies have expressed concern about the impact of leaving crop genetic resources off the list. The proposed workshop would help to address and resolve these concerns.

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