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The Rural Voice, 1989-05, Page 27I J nations. Yet, as the developed nations are the centres of industry and tech- nology, elite crop plants are developed there and sold to the rest of the world. Third World countries are angry at the unfairness of the flow. They see their raw materials disappearing to the West with little or no return and a heavy cost. The furor has increased with the development of plant breed- ers' rights, which lock away germ- plasm for corporate profit. In 1984, at the Food and Agri- cultural Organization (FAO), Third World nations put forward a resolution calling for free and equal access to all germplasm, including the protected lines of private companies. The U.S. opposed the motion, and there has been a stalemate ever since. should start taking advantage of this genetic material. Most of them have good plant breeding programs. With a little more emphasis on the subject and a better scientific climate, they could breed the crops that local farmers want and need. The issue of genetic erosion and germplasm conservation is not going to go away in the near future. Instead, its importance is going to grow. There is no doubt that world agriculture now rests on a rather narrow genetic base. In many ways, our food crops are more vulnerable to natural disaster than at any time in agricultural history. What gives us optimism that our food yields will continue to grow and our crops will resist natural calamities is the good work of plant breeders and World agriculture rests on a rather narrow genetic base. In many ways, our crops are more vulnerable to natural disaster than at any time in agricultural history. Underlying all of this is a great deal of confusion. Under IBPGR restrictions, any collection of genetic material must be duplicated and de- posited in the country of origin. This ensures that Third World nations have access to the same genetic material as the West has. Western plant breeders often evaluate this material for Third World nations, saving them the bother and expense. Similarly, Third World collections of germplasm that have been lost for various reasons (equip- ment failure, change in govemments) are often replaced by Western nations. Finally, plant breeders in the Third World have the same access to elite plant varieties as Western breeders do. Increasing the tension is the fact that the worst offenders in terms of hoarding germplasm are some Third World nations, not private companies. Ethiopia will not allow coffee germ- plasm out of the country, and India hoards tumeric and black pepper germplasm. Nations try to carve out a world monopoly for a crop plant by restricting the genetic diversity avail- able to breeders outside their borders. Instead of complaining about the corporate or Western robbing of gen- etic resources, Third World nations gene banks. So it's imperative that they be given the resources and facil- ities to carry on. The last thing we want to see is an Irish potato famine on a world scale. But if we drop our vigilance and ignore the genetic uniformity of our food crops, that is a possibility we may have to face.0 Anyone who would like to be directly involved in the conservation of genetic resources might contact the Seed Savers Exchange: "The Seed Savers Exchange is a non-profit organization which is promoting the conservation and preservation of food crops including vegetables, fruits, and grains. Heirloom varieties which have been handed down for years are espe- cially emphasized. Also saved are seeds from special groups such as Indians, Mennonites, etc., varieties with special qualities such as drought or cold resistance, and varieties being dropped from seed catalogues." "The Exchange consists of 589 listed members ... who grow these plants, increase the seed, and offer them to other members. The address is: Seed Savers Exchange, Kent Whealy, Director, R.R. 3, Box 239, Decorah, Iowa, 52101, U.S.A." —Judy Gaunt, PGRC Newsletter CALF CREEP FEEDER • 4 ft. or 6 ft. wide • 14 gauge mig welded feeder • safety gate - prevents larger calves from gettting stuck Cattle headgates Squeeze chutes & ext. cages Wheel transports Self-locking headrails For catalogue and price list, contact E. S. Martin Welding R.R. 1, Linwood, Ont. NOB 2A0 (519) 698-2283 SAVE $$$ NOW FORD LAWN TRACTOR -MOWER Ford LT -8 Lawn Tractor • 8 -HP Briggs & Stratton engine. • 3 -speed gear transmission. • 38 -in. mower, standard. • Short 26 -in. turning radius. • Sealed -beam headlamps. • Flip -up engine hood. • Rear grass catcher optional. NOW ONLY $2075.00 Watson Farm Enterprises Hwy. 6 N. Mount Forest 519-323-2755 MAY 1989 25