Agrobiodiversity conservation policy: a 'Tragedy of Errors'.

This chapter briefly reviews the history of conservation of crop genetic resources and discusses recent developments in both ex situ and in situ conservation of crop biodiversity, especially in relation to policy. It considers the impacts of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources on ex situ conservation and food security. It also highlights the lack of progress in developing a sound scientific basis for both in situ conservation of crop wild relatives and on-farm conservation of landraces.