Using genetic resources

Description

Using genetic resources involves the identification, conservation, and sustainable utilization of genetic material from plants, animals, and microorganisms to enhance food security, biodiversity, and resilience to environmental changes. This strategy addresses the loss of genetic diversity by promoting gene banks, breeding programs, and equitable access to genetic materials, ensuring their availability for research, agriculture, and restoration efforts. It remedies genetic erosion and supports innovation in health, agriculture, and ecosystem management.

Context

There are many different types of genetic resources that may be used for different purposes. For example, categories of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture may include wild species, wild relatives of crop species, landraces, primitive and obsolete varieties, modern varieties, breeding lines and experimental populations, and lines with specific genetic characteristics. Many other types of genetic resources are used for such purposes as pharmaceutical development, traditional medicine, horticulture, personal care and cosmetics, foods or beverages, or environmental remediation.