BIOINFORMATICS: A STRATEGY TO LINK IN SITU CONSERVATION AND TO REWARD PEOPLE

Homestead gardens are the major source of variability existing in these horticultural crops. Ex situ conservation has limitations to conserve in a comprehensive manner the vast diversity available in horticultural crops.
This necessitates the in situ conservation to be encouraged with a greater involvement of stakeholders.
On the other hand, characterisation of the variability as well as accessibility of such variability for commercial exploitation is difficult under in situ conservation conditions.
Bioinformatics can play a vital role by means of proper documentation of diversity as well as of associated knowledge, thereby overcoming the shortcomings of in situ conservation.
Application of bioinformatics can also play a vital role in ensuring intellectual property protection and in assigning any commercial benefits thereof to farmers and communities.
We have attempted to address and link the following issues: (i) alternate employment, (ii) involvement of youth, women, especially tribals, (iii) improved education, and (iv) intellectual property rights.

XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Plant Genetic Resources, The Fabric of Horticultures Future

Tejaswini, T.N. Prakash, S. Archak

biodiversity, in situ, ex situ, patents, farmers’ rights

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2003.623.12