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Search strategies and the value of a large collection

author(s) Gollin, Douglas - Smale, Melinda - Skovmand, Bent
from International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
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Gollin, Douglas; Smale, Melinda; Skovmand, Bent, 'Search strategies and the value of a large collection', International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI); System-wide Genetic Resources Institute (SGRP), Washington, D.C., 2003

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Abstract

While the agricultural productivity benefits of utilizing new germplasm have been widely documented (Evenson 2001; Alston, Norton, and Pardey 1998), some controversy remains about the economic justification for expanding existing collections of crop genetic resources. Concerns persist that germplasm collections are underutilized (Wright 1997) and there-fore of questionable economic value. Does infrequent “use” of genebanks in crop breeding programs imply that accessions in genebanks have little economic value? Are seed banks really “seed morgues”?

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