This collection of 19 essays brings together economic and agronomic research on collective pooling and management of plant genetic materials for food and agriculture (PGRFA). They consider how
corporate ＂hyperownership＂ and free-trade agreements undermines the mutual benefits of PGRFA pooling. They look at different international legal supports for PGRFA pooling, addressing design
issues in the multilateral system created by the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA). The essays are organized into three sections that overview
countries’ interdependence on plant genetic resources and the imperative of international cooperation, the history and design of the ITPGRFA, and critical reflections on the Treaty, how it
could be different, and other ways of institutionalizing global genetic resources as a commons. The contributors are from around the world, but mostly Europe, and include agronomics professors,
researchers, and food security advocates. Earthscan is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group. Annotation ©2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
