International Programs and the Use of Modern Biotechnologies for Crop Improvement

Abstract

This chapter describes some of the key steps taken during the development of the international agriculture research effort over the last century and presents an overview of the various players involved. The role and niche of foundations, the private sector, and national programs are discussed in the context of accessing and using genomics resources. A description of the Generation Challenge Programme (GCP) is presented as a detailed case study of an international initiative aiming to develop and utilize genomics resources to enable plant breeders in the developing world to produce better crop varieties for resource-poor farmers. The challenges faced by the international programs, and the GCP in particular, to positively impact crop productivity in marginal environments are discussed.