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Social Valuation of Genebank Activities: Assessing Public Demand for Genetic Resource Conservation in the Czech Republic

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  • Nicholas Tyack

    (Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
    Institute of Economic Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University, 110 00 Prague, Czech Republic)

  • Milan Ščasný

    (Charles University Environment Centre, 162 00 Prague, Czech Republic
    Faculty of Finance and Accounting, University of Economics, 130 67 Prague, Czech Republic)

Abstract

The use of diverse genetic resources to breed improved crop varieties has been a key driver of agricultural productivity improvements in the past century. At the same time, the adoption of modern varieties has contributed to substantial loss of traditional varieties. In this analysis, we estimate the social value provided by several proposed crop diversity conservation programs to be carried out by the Czech genebank system. We use a double-bounded dichotomous choice model to estimate the willingness-to-pay (WTP) for conserving additional crop varieties in the genebank for ten years using data collected through an online contingent valuation survey administered to a sample representative of the general Czech population (1037 respondents) and a smaller sub-sample representative of the agricultural region of South Moravia (500 respondents). Mean WTP was found to be about $9 for both the Czech and S. Moravian sub-samples, corresponding to country-wide benefits of ~$68 million. These benefits increase by 6–7% for every ten varieties conserved, implying total welfare benefits of ~$84 million for a program conserving the maximum number of 35 additional crop varieties offered in the experiment. The study illustrates an empirical approach of potential value for policymakers responsible for determining funding levels for genetic resource conservation.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicholas Tyack & Milan Ščasný, 2018. "Social Valuation of Genebank Activities: Assessing Public Demand for Genetic Resource Conservation in the Czech Republic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-19, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:11:p:3997-:d:179837
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    Cited by:

    1. Claudia Meier & Bernadette Oehen, 2019. "Consumers’ Valuation of Farmers’ Varieties for Food System Diversity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-29, December.
    2. Jichao Geng & Na Yang & Wei Zhang & Li Yang, 2023. "Public Willingness to Pay for Green Lifestyle in China: A Contingent Valuation Method Based on Integrated Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-23, January.
    3. ORDOFA JARA, Gemechu & TESHOME GEBRETSADIK, Wubishet & TEMAM HAJIFATO, Nesru, 2021. "Households Willingness To Pay For The Conservation Of Noug: A Case Study," Review of Agricultural and Applied Economics (RAAE), Faculty of Economics and Management, Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra, vol. 24(2), October.
    4. Nicholas Tyack & Milan Ščasný, 2020. "‘Warehouse’ or research centre? Analyzing public preferences for conservation, pre-breeding and characterization activities at the Czech genebank," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 12(5), pages 1035-1046, October.
    5. Melinda Smale & Nelissa Jamora, 2020. "Valuing genebanks," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 12(5), pages 905-918, October.

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