Improving the global exchange of germplasm for crop breeding

Different norms, rules and practices (referred as institutions) organize the exchange of germplasm to address broader global challenges such as advancement of science and innovation, food security, sustainable agriculture and global equity. Some of these institutions are now embedded in various treaties and national regulations. This chapter demonstrates that these regulations are not as successful as they could be because they only partially integrate the complexity of the germplasm exchange environment. In order to better understand how germplasm exchange could be improved, it is important to go beyond the often-employed legalistic approach to examine the social contexts in which exchange takes place.