Progress 09/22/05 to 09/30/07
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) ARS and the Cooperator (Williams College) desire to enter into this Cooperative Agreement for the purpose of assessing the magnitude and conditions of the international exchange of U.S. animal genetic resources. The objective of this project is to assess the likely economic impact on the United States and other countries of a possible international treaty governing the international exchange of animal genetic resources. The project will include both quantitative and descriptive analysis of a treaty�s impact, under the assumption that such a treaty would closely mirror the existing treaty on plant genetic resources. The study will pay particular attention to the effects of such a treaty on animal agriculture in the United States, but it will also analyze the likely consequences for developing countries, who are currently among those expressing interest in a treaty. Approach (from AD-416) 1) This project will begin by gathering available data from U.S. and other sources, including statistics from both public and private sector sources. Using these data, the project will characterize and summarize the following: - Current and recent commercial flows of breeding animals, semen, embryos, and other forms of animal genetic resources. 2) After describing and summarizing these flows, a statistical analysis that will estimate the likely future directions of genetic flows as a function of the state of animal agriculture (including research capacity) in both originating countries and recipient countries. This will provide a basis for analyzing likely future directions of germplasm flows. 3) The project will examine recent episodes of importation of exotic germplasm into the United States (e.g., Boer goats, Tuli cattle), with a view towards estimating the direct and indirect (short-term and long-term) values of the importation. 4) The project will attempt to gather data and/or case study information on the uses of exotic germplasm in research. It will consider the products generated by research and the eventual benefits and beneficiaries of the research. 5) Combining these several types of analysis, the project will consider the potential economic costs and benefits for different countries and country groups from a treaty that would restrict or effectively tax flows of animal genetic resources. It will compare these costs and benefits to alternative policies, such as direct grants to promote the conservation of rare breeds and species, or direct investments in animal agriculture research. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations This report serves to document research conducted under an Assistance Type Cooperative Agreement between ARS and Williams College, Williamstown, MA. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent project 5402-31000-002-00D, National Animal Germplasm Programs (NAGP). An evaluation of animal genetic resources trade flow was completed in this fiscal year. This study was comprised of two parts: an economic evaluation of germplasm flows on a global basis; and a biological examination of how imported breeds and individual animals impacted the U. S. livestock populations. The results demonstrated that the vast majority of trade is between developed nations. Canada and Mexico are our largest trading partners. Biologically it was demonstrated that successfully importing a new breed is dependent upon the new breed having a number of desirable traits and not a single trait. In evaluating importations of Jersey dairy cattle the data suggested that the progeny of imported animals did not increase or remain in the population; rather by the great- grand progeny generation most of their influence had diminished. These results suggest that despite relatively good performance information for dairy cattle that successfully importing new genetic resources into the U. S. is speculative. Our results also suggest that importation is speculative due to the advanced performance levels of U.S. livestock; thereby underscoring the need to preserve these genetic resources in the repository.
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Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06
Outputs
Progress Report 4d Progress report. This report documents the research conducted under a Project Grant Agreement with Williams College. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent project 5402-31000-001-00D, National Animal Germplasm Program. The objective of this study is to assess the likely economic impact on the United States and other countries of a possible international treaty governing the international exchange of animal genetic resources. Approach: The project will include both quantitative and descriptive analysis of a treatys impact, under the assumption that such a treaty would closely mirror the existing treaty on plant genetic resources. The study will pay particular attention to the effects of such a treaty on animal agriculture in the United States, but it will also analyze the likely consequences for developing countries, which are currently among those expressing interest in a treaty. There are many difficulties inherent
in analyzing the potential impact of a treaty. For starters, the parameters of the treaty are themselves unclear. Presumably such a treaty would build on the provisions of the Convention on Biodiversity, which establishes national sovereignty over genetic resources and calls for the sharing of benefits when one countrys genetic resources are used commercially in another country. A frequent assumption is that there are important flows of genetic resources from the developing countries of the tropics to the rich countries of the temperate zone. Our analysis attempts to measure the magnitude of such flows, now and in the past. Presumably, any system of compensation established under a treaty would cover both current and recent flows although we assume that flows occurring before the past fifty to one hundred years would be exempted. Data: There are several sources of data on the movement of animal genetic resources. The United Nations COMTRADE database provides data on the flows from
country to country of many goods, including live animals and breeding material (e.g., semen). Similar statistics are reported for individual countries, such as the US data base on Foreign Agricultural Trade of the United States (FATUS). For cattle, the data can be supplemented by observations from producer organizations. (We acknowledge with gratitude the U.S.-based National Association of Animal Breeders, which has provided access to its proprietary data on exports of bovine semen.) Preliminary Results: The largest transnational movement of animal genetic resources currently occurs through the international trade in live breeding bovines. According to the COMTRADE database, this market was worth approximately $250 million in 2002, with the US accounting for about 10 percent of world exports. This market has been seriously affected in recent years by phytosanitary restrictions, but historically the US has been a significant exporter in this market, while importing only very small
numbers of live animals for breeding primarily from Canada. A more recently developed market has been the growing trade in bovine semen, which accounted for approximately $120-135 million annually in the years 2001-05. This trade encompasses both dairy and beef cattle, and the United States is by a significant margin the leading exporter, with about a one-third share in world exports. In both markets, a reasonable question is: to what extent is the United States making use of genetic resources from countries of the global south? Also, to what extent is the US a source of genetic resources for those countries? In the market for bovine semen, the US imports from no countries that would be classified as developing countries, nor from countries belonging to the tropics or sub-tropics. In the market for pure-bred breeding animals, the US imported one animal from Guatemala in 2002, reported as worth $15,800. The US also imported about 500 animals from Mexico in 2004 and about 30 in 2005,
but these cross-border flows do not appear to have been entirely for breeding purposes. In total, for the years 2002-2005, about 1.2% of US live animal imports came from developing countries, including the cross-border imports from Mexico. By contrast, far greater volumes and values flowed from the US to developing countries. In the market for live purebred bovines for breeding, large fractions of the total flows have gone to developing countries about 80 percent in 2002 and 2003. In the market for bovine semen, significant fractions of US exports have gone to developing countries approximately one-third, in 2005. (Note that this figure excludes exports to a number of countries which could, under other classifications, be considered developing countries: South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Turkey, and all the countries of the former Soviet Union.) Similar numbers seem to hold for trade in pigs and poultry: the US and other rich countries are large net exporters of animals and
presumably of genetic resources to the developing world. Conclusions: A preliminary conclusion is that a system of compensation for flows of genetic resources would be likely to involve substantial flows from the developing world to the United States, rather than the other way around. From the perspective of the United States, the additional "compensation" that could be earned from these flows of genetic resources would likely be small, as compared to the total value of the animal agriculture industry. Thus, the benefits to the US from a treaty are likely to be small, and they are likely to be dwarfed in importance by the benefits from genetic improvements that enhance productivity.
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