'This book captures some of the key issues underlying the ever-lasting food crises both at national and global levels. It demonstrates how global policies impact national and local actions while the food insecurity seem to be a constant companion to many in spite of decades of our work on securing food as a fundamental right for the poor.'
-- Balakrishna Pisupati, United Nations Environment Programme, Kenya

'This thoughtful book raises important issues about ownership of agricultural resources, the environment and food security. Claudio Chiarolla has written an important book that challenges traditional notions of plant genetic resources and agricultural research. The author's detailed and thorough approach ensures that the book will make a valuable contribution to the debate about sustainable agricultural development and it is highly recommended to anyone interested in intellectual property rights and sustainable agriculture.'
-- Duncan Matthews, Queen Mary University of London, UK

This well-researched book focuses on international governance of crop diversity and agricultural innovation. It highlights the implications that the future control of food, including access to agricultural resources and technologies, might have for global food security.

Claudio Chiarolla analyzes developmental implications of global regulatory reforms that impact on access to agricultural knowledge, science and technology for sustainable development. Current global arrangements fall short of halving the proportion of people who suffer from hunger in accordance with the Millennium Development Goals' framework. Therefore, the book proposes ways to achieve international equity in the way agricultural research is conducted, how its results are disseminated and the benefits shared.

This definitive study will be appreciated by anyone interested in intellectual property, agricultural innovation, environmental policy, and biotechnology and associated regulatory challenges. It will be a valuable resource for policymakers and practitioners, legislators, academic professionals, civil society activists and scholars in legal, environment and development studies.

Contents: 1. Introduction and Overview; 2. Patents, Agricultural Innovation and Sustainable Development; 3. Plant Intellectual Property Protection: Patents and Plant Variety Rights; 4. The International Legal Framework of Access to Plant Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing; 5. Case Study: The Regulation of Crop Diversity in Viet Nam; 6. Conclusions; Bibliography; Index