Recent years have seen a rapid expansion in the number of programmes around the world concerned with the conservation and use of genetic resources. As a result, policies on issues such as access, ownership, intellectual property rights, variety registration and marketing, the use of research results (particularly research involving formal and informal sector partners), and the equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources, have become of increasing concern. This has, in turn, led to the creation and adoption of several international agreements, and numerous national policies and laws.

How such policies, laws are developed, interpreted and implemented directly influences how national governments and international agricultural research institutes, such as the CGIAR Centres, design and carry out their genetic resources activities.