WORLD FEDERATION FOR CULTURE COLLECTIONS (WFCC) WORKSHOP
THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF MICROBIAL GENETIC RESOURCES
updated on October 14th, 1998
At the Eighth International Symposium on Microbial Ecology
http://www.glinx.com/isme8/
Halifax, Canada, August 12th 1998>
A report of the Halifax meeting
List of all the participants
The WFCC Executive Board and the Committee for Biodiversity are planning the above workshop as part of the on-going activities to resolve some of the uncertainties and develop procedures for the distribution of ex-situ Microbial Genetic Resources (MGRs) within the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Following the international workshop at the Eighth International Congress for Culture Collections held in Veldhoven, Netherlands (August 1996), an Information Document on Access to Ex-situ Microbial Genetic Resources within the Framework of the CBD was finalized and has been widely distributed. It is available from the WFCC Web Site (http://wdcm.nig.ac.jp/wfcc/wfcc.html) or as hard copy from the WFCC Secretary (alan.doyle@camr.org.uk). This document was summarized and distributed at Third Conference of the Parties to the CBD (Buenos Aires, Argentina, November 1996) by the CBD Secretariat as an Information Document (UNEP/CBD/COP/3/Inf.19).
In continuing discussions on the implementation of the CBD at the microbial level, the question frequently arises as to the economic value of microbial genetic resources, both in-situ and ex-situ. It is not difficult to draw attention to the clear value of microorganisms producing antibiotics, fine chemicals and other biotechnological products. Similarly, the general value of microorganisms in essential degradation, in the food chain and also in food production (bread, fermented beverages) is abundantly clear.
However, the economic value has not yet been estimated in monetary terms. As a result, it is difficult to assess the priorities that should be afforded to microorganisms in conservation programs and to assign values that should be attached to potential industrial strains for royalty and licensing purposes and the development of material transfer agreements and benefit sharing.
Moreover, the value of the services delivered by the ex-situ collections to the international scientific community and to society requires an economic assessment to provide policy makers with the information needed for sustainable support. This is an important gap in current knowledge that the workshop will help to resolve.
The workshop will be a one-day event, taking place on the Wednesday of the ISME-8 Conference. The aim of the workshop is to bring environmental economists and microbiologists/culture collection experts together to discuss the economic issues involved and possible developments.
The WFCC greatfully acknowledges the support of the European Union's Biotechnology Directorate (DGXII), The Organization of the American States (OAS) and Health Canada.
Key issues for consideration during the presentations and final discussions
We will meet at the Halifax World Trade and Convention Center
Mariner Room 2/3 from 8:30 to 17:30 hrs, August 12, 1998
08:30 | REGISTRATION |
09:00 | WELCOME AND OVERVIEW
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09:30 | ECONOMIC VALUE OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY Chair: B Kirsop, (UK), Co-chair: D.K.Song, (China)
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10:30 | COFFEE |
11:00 | ECONOMIC VALUE OF EX-SITU COLLECTIONS Chair: L.Sly, Australia, Co-chair: V.Canhos
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12:00 | DISCUSSION chaired by L.Sly and V.Canhos |
12:30 | LUNCH |
13:30 | APPROACHES TO ASSESSING VALUE AND PROMOTING INCENTIVES Chair: C.Takase, CBD Secretariat; Co-chair: J.Staley
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14:30 | THE VALUE OF MICROORGANISMS AND GENOMIC INFORMATION Chair: D. Van der Mei, Netherlands; Co-chair: H.Sugawara, Japan
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15:30 | TEA |
15:45 | INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVES AND PLANS (Valuation, Access/ Equitable Sharing and Bioprospecting) Chair: A.Doyle, UK
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16:45 | PLENARY DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Chair: B.Kirsop ; Co-chair: J.Hunter-Cevera, US |
List of Participants
Registration to the Workshop
In order to participate in this workshop at ISME-8, you must contact GEMS Registration, preferably by email to ensure quick processing, at one of the addresses below. Please note that this workshop is conducted concurrently with the other workshops and excursions on the Wednesday. This means that if you have already booked a workshop or excursion, you will have to cancel your booking in order to attend this workshop. Please remember to include your registration number when contacting GEMS Registration.
GEMS Registration, 5 Beck's Way, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, B2V 2C3
Phone: (902)434-3643, Fax: (902)462-8135, E-mail: gems@netcom.ca