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Genetic Erosion in Traditional Food Crops in the Pacific Islands: Background, Socioeconomic Causes and Policy Issues - WP193 Amended

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  • Tisdell, Clem

Abstract

The genetic diversity of traditional food crops is rapidly declining in the Pacific Islands, as is also true globally. This loss in the Pacific is of particular concern worldwide because some of these islands (such as New Guinea) are primary centres of origin of several globally important food crops (e.g. bananas and sugar cane). This article provides background information on the evolution of the diversity of these crops, investigates (within the Pacific context) the socioeconomic reasons for this loss, analyses its possible economic consequences, and considers the economic benefits and costs of conserving crop varieties. The potential economic benefits foregone by failing to conserve a crop variety that possesses genetic attributes which would counter a productivity reducing new disease or environmental development is shown to depend on the nature of the demand function for the crop’s production. Other things being held constant, this potential loss is greater the larger is the absolute demand for a crop’s production and the more inelastic is this demand. Staple crop’s production seem to satisfy these conditions, especially the first one. In fact, gene banks in the Pacific Islands have concentrated on conserving varieties of staple crops. However, ignoring the conservation of minor traditional crops may not always be optimal, given that circumstances change. The economics and costs associated with the conservation of crop diversity in situ and ex situ are discussed. The effective analysis of this is shown to be challenging but it is an important consideration in making conservation decisions. Unfortunately, this subject appears to have received little attention in the Pacific as well as globally.

Suggested Citation

  • Tisdell, Clem, 2014. "Genetic Erosion in Traditional Food Crops in the Pacific Islands: Background, Socioeconomic Causes and Policy Issues - WP193 Amended," Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers 183260, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
  • Handle: RePEc:ags:uqseee:183260
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.183260
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tisdell, Clem, 2003. "Socioeconomic causes of loss of animal genetic diversity: analysis and assessment," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(3), pages 365-376, July.
    2. Clem Tisdell, 2010. "The Precautionary Principle Revisited: Its Interpretations And Their Conservation Consequences," The Singapore Economic Review (SER), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 55(02), pages 335-352.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hemalatha Palanivel & Shipra Shah, 2021. "Unlocking the inherent potential of plant genetic resources: food security and climate adaptation strategy in Fiji and the Pacific," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(10), pages 14264-14323, October.
    2. Teferi, Ermias Tesfaye & Kassie, Girma T. & Pe, Mario Enrico & Fadda, Carlo, 2020. "Are farmers willing to pay for climate related traits of wheat? Evidence from rural parts of Ethiopia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).

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    Community/Rural/Urban Development; Environmental Economics and Policy; Land Economics/Use;
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