Global Genetic Resources, Beltsville Symposium XXI

[Joseph H. Kirkbride, Jr.]

Global Genetic Resources:

Access, Ownership and Intellectual Property Rights

May 19-22, 1996
Beltsville, Maryland

Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Association of Systematics Collections

Beltsville Symposium XXI

The purpose of this symposium is to explore issues related to
ownership of and access to genetic resources and biological specimens
as they affect the ability of scientists to do their job of providing
knowledge to benefit the people of the world.  While scientists desire
free, international distribution of germplasm and scientific
information on biodiversity, current forces and trends are leading
away from this position.  A mutually beneficial compromise is needed
and this meeting will explore these possibilities.

Sunday Evening, May 19
Registration, 5:00-8:00 PM, and Mixer and Poster Session,
7:00-9:00 PM, at the Holiday Inn.

I.  Monday, May 20
Registration: 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Session I.  Use of Genetic Resources:  The Problem

Welcome - Floyd Horn, Administrator, Agricultural Research Service,
Washington, DC.

Keynote Address:  Biodiversity and the equitable use of the world's
genetic resources.  Peter Day, Center for Agricultural Molecular
Biology, Cook College-Rutgers, New Brunswick, New Jersey

Sustainable use of little-known biological resources: policy choices
for governments.  Speaker TBA.

North vs South Issues: Politics of Germplasm Collecting and
Collections.  Daniel Witmeyer, Alexandria, Virginia.

Summary of Legal Issues. Laws., International Treaties including the
Biodiversity Treaty.  Bill Lesser, Cornell University, Ithaca, New
York.

The Biodiversity Convention and the Flow of Scientific Information.
John Barton, Stanford University, Stanford, California.

Monday, May 20

Session II.  Value of Specimen-Based Research to the Global Community

Opening talk:  "How can scientists maximize the worth of biological
resources to society?"  Quentin Wheeler, Cornell University, Ithaca,
New York.

Case studies:
Introduced Parasites and Emerging Diseases.  Eric Hoberg,
  Biosystematic Parasitology Unit,  ARS, Beltsville, Maryland
Developing Fungi as Biocontrol Agents.  Amy Rossman, U.S. National
  Fungus Collections, ARS, Beltsville, Maryland
Germplasm and agricultural products.  Henry Shands, Germplasm
  Resources Leader, ARS,   Beltsville, Maryland
Insects.  Natalia Vandenburg, Systematic Entomology Laboratory, ARS,
  Beltsville, Maryland
Microbial products.  Jennie Hunter-Cevera, Lawrence Livermore
  Laboratory, Oakland, CA.
Vascular plants.  Vicki Funk, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.
Horticulture: its economic undervaluing in society.  Thomas Elias,
  National Arboretum, Washington, DC.

Monday Evening, Media Panel Discussion with Paul Raeburn, Science
Editor, Associated Press, New York, NY.

Tuesday Morning, May 21.  Continuation of case studies.

Plant collecting.  Maxine Thompson, Oregon State University,
  Corvallis, Oregon.
Tissue collection and exchange.  Fred Sheldon, Louisiana State
  University, Baton Rouge.

Session III.  Models For Equitable Use Of Genetic Resources

Harvesting wild edible, mycorrhizal fungi in Oaxaca, Mexico. Ignacio
  Chapela, University of   California, Berkeley
Marine Biodiversity Prospecting. Shirley Pomponi, Harbor Branch
  Oceanographic Institute, FL.
The African viewpoint.  Maurice Iwu, Silver Spring, MD.
The Canadian viewpoint.  Jacques Surprenaut, CLBRR, Ottawa, Ontario.
The United States position.  John Matuzak, U.S. State Department,
  Washington, D.C. (tentative)

Summary and opening comment from Discussion Leader; discussion.

Tuesday Afternoon, May 21.

Session IV.  Potential Solutions For Equitable Use Of Genetic Resources

Opening talk: The International Germplasm Collections under the Rule
of the Biodiversity Convention. Wolfgang Siebeck, CGIAR, Washington,
DC, Geoff. Hawtin and Jan Engles, IPGRI, Rome.

Biodiversity Prospecting and Models for Collections Resources:
NSF/USAID/NIH model. Barbara Timmermann, University of Arizona,
Tucson.

Material Transfer Agreements.  Marie Freire, Office of Technology
Transfer, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.

Equitable use of biodiversity in Mexico through the sustainable
development of plants and plants products.  Oscar Dorado Rameriz,
Universidad Autonomo de Morelos, Cuernavaca, Mexico.

Discussant opens discussion period with 10 minute summary and lead
questions.

EVENING BANQUET at Patuxent Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center, Laurel,
Maryland.

Wednesday Morning, May 22.  Continuation of potential solutions.

Model Biodiversity Legislation as a Tool for Promoting Conservation
and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity. Walt Reid, World Resources
Institute, Washington, DC.

Scientists as Agents: How Collections can be Honest Brokers without
Excess Liability.  Ray Cypess, American Type Culture Collection,
Rockville, Maryland.

Policy implications and summary of the meeting.  Discussion of
solutions to problems defined early in the meeting: E. Hoagland,
moderator

May 22, Afternoon

ASC policy work session for those interested in remaining.  Develop
white paper for ASC to    present to Congress and federal agencies.
Chair Quentin Wheeler, ASC President.

ASC ANNUAL MEETING

Pre-Symposium ASC Workshop on Government Relations for Institutions
Leaders:

Saturday Afternoon., May 18 and Sunday Morning, May 19 Including
Lunch.

This workshop is intended for institutional leaders who are interested
in learning how they and their institutions can be more effective
voices for the institution, their community, and issues of concern.
Government relations experts from Congress and the not-for-profit
community will speak in a series of roundtable discussions.  There
will also be a mock Congressional Hearing with museum directors acting
as witnesses, and a mock press conference with real science reporters
asking questions and giving tips about effective presentations.

There will be a description of the current sociopolitical climate
(which is similar in the U.S. and Canada), and of upcoming issues, and
where we can be effective.  Much of the time will be devoted to
learning how to use the unique local resources of biological
collections to engage the interest of policymakers at the national and
local levels.  The workshop will provide practical tips, and will help
institutions set priorities regarding the issues and approaches that
they may wish to take, to maximize their effectiveness.  ASC's own
government relations program and that of the American Association of
Museums provide a context for institutions to develop their outreach
to policymakers.  Speakers will include ASC's Executive Director
Elaine Hoagland and Jason Hall, head of the government affairs
department at AAM.

Registration for the pre-symposium workshop is $65; see registration
form.

Sunday, May 19 PM  ASC business meeting (open to all)

REGISTRATION:

_______  $195 before April 1, 1996 (includes Symposium meetings,
published Proceedings, Banquet, lunches and evening socials)
________  $225 after April 1, 1996 (same as above)

________  $100 student registration (same as above)

________  $100 spouse registration (same as above)

________  $100 one-day registration
                 Mon. _____  Tues. _____   Wed. _____

________  $ 65 ASC Pre-Symposium Workshop on Government Relations

________  Total

PAYMENT:  Make checks payable to FAR-B, Inc. and drawn on a U.S. bank
or money order in U.S. currency.

TO REGISTER, SEND THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WITH A CHECK TO:

Beltsville Symposium XXI/ASC Annual Meeting
Attn. Virginia Hupfer
Bldg. 003, Rm. 220
10300 Baltimore Avenue
Beltsville, MD 20705-2350
(301) 504-6108
FAX: (301) 504-6357

ASC/Beltsville Symposium Registration Information

Dr. _____  Ms. _____  Mr. _____  Other _____

Name:  ____________________________________________________________

Affiliation:
 __________________________________________________________________

Address:
 __________________________________________________________________

 __________________________________________________________________

Telephone:
 __________________________________________________________________

Fax:
 __________________________________________________________________

Email:
 __________________________________________________________________

Poster Presentation:

If you wish to present a poster at the Symposium, please provide the
information below by March 1, 1996.  Additional information will be
sent to authors after receipt of registration.  Posters will be
displayed in the Holiday Inn, College Park during evening social hours
and noon breaks.

Title:
 __________________________________________________________________

Authors:
 __________________________________________________________________

General Information:

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Holiday Inn, 10000 Baltimore
Blvd., College Park, Maryland 20740, 1-800-872-5564.  Make hotel
reservations by April 15, 1996 for the special rate of $69 per night
including breakfast.



Amy Y. Rossman, Director
U.S. National Fungus Collections
10300 Baltimore Ave.
Beltsville, MD 20705
301-504-5364
FAX 301-504-5810
email: amy at fungi.ars-grin.gov