Dr. Robin Pistorius was the first Vavilov-Frankel Fellow to conduct research with Bioversity International, then known as the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI). An avid researcher with a doctorate in Political Science, Robin has extensive knowledge and interest in issues of sustainability - ranging from the use and conservation of biodiversity, to genetic resources and the intellectual property rights (IPR) involved.

His research with Bioversity focused on documenting “the institutional history of the conservation of plant genetic resources” - examining the processes leading up to plant genetic resources becoming a global issue, as well as the breeding and conservation strategies devised and carried out from the late 1960s to the early 1990s. The research resulted in a popular and frequently cited publication:“Scientists, Plants and Politics: A history of the plant genetic resources movement”, which takes the reader through the scramble for genetic resource conservation in light of increasing genetic erosion; the different developments of ex situ and in situ conservation; as well as the political and intellectual property issues that unfolded in the process. The fellowship gained Robin recognition and acted as a stepping stone towards a career in the field.

He worked for many years as a researcher and lecturer before opening his own consulting firm, Facts of Life in 2004, which assists policymakers and researchers in solving sustainability questions regarding agriculture, biotechnology, biodiversity and water. Robin is currently based in the Netherlands.