IPGRI Ethical Principles   IPR issues

Preamble

IPGRI is an autonomous publicly-funded international research and development organization. It has a global mandate to promote the conservation and use of plant genetic resources for the benefit of present and future generations. Its mission is "To encourage, support and undertake activities to improve the management of genetic resources worldwide so as to help eradicate poverty, increase food security and protect the environment. IPGI focuses on the conservation and use of genetic resources important to developing countries and has an explicit commitment to specific crops". IPGRI places a fundamental value on biodiversity and the benefits that can accrue from its continued and expanded use.

The Institute has contributed to the development of the CGIAR's Ethical Principles on the Conservation and Use of Genetic Resources that address: equity, trusteeship, respect, responsibility and integrity in science, and social benefits. IPGRI's own Ethical Principles further elaborate these broad CGIAR principles in ways that are consistent with the Institute’s constitution. IPGRI’s Ethical Principles serve to establish standards and operational principles for the Institute. They provide guidance for arriving at ethical decisions that are transparent and consistent with the mission of IPGRI and the CGIAR.

Equity

• IPGRI recognizes its obligation to promote equity in the intergenerational distribution of benefits, especially through the maintenance of biological diversity for future generations.
• IPGRI gives priority to the needs of the poor and disadvantaged in selecting and designing its projects and activities on the conservation, use and deployment of genetic resources.
• IPGRI will strive to ensure that the benefits arising from the use of plant genetic resources are distributed equitably.

Access and empowerment

• IPGRI seeks to strengthen the link between people and biodiversity and gives special attention to ensuring the continued access to plant genetic resources by diverse cultures, women and men, farmers, and local communities.
• IPGRI recognizes farmers rights and the traditional resource rights of local communities and seeks to ensure these rights are respected.
• IPGRI applies the principle of prior informed consent in all its dealings with national programmes and other members of the international genetic resources community as well as with farmers and local and indigenous communities.
• IPGRI strives to promote fair exchange and safe movement of germplasm to meet human needs.
• IPGRI seeks the active participation of its partners in all relevant stages of research and conservation.
• IPGRI aims to build capacity that empowers its partners in decision making and execution, thereby helping increase their ability to determine their own destiny.
• IPGRI’s partnerships will give due recognition to the talents, knowledge, resources and skills contributed by all the actors from the public and private sectors, local, national and international agencies and civil society.

Respect, transparency and tolerance

• IPGRI recognizes and respects alternative views and practices in the field of plant genetic resources and aims to facilitate mutually beneficial relationships with partners having divergent views or goals.
• IPGRI recognizes the need for transparency in calculating the risks and benefits entailed in all its activities and that partners need to be fully informed of foreseeable impacts.

Social benefit or utility

• IPGRI’s programme priorities are determined not by a morally neutral pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, but by the particular humanitarian and equity-based concerns expressed in the Institute’s mission.
• IPGRI gives priority to work that promotes food security, poverty alleviation, and health of the environment.
• IPGRI weighs the possible benefits resulting from its work against the possible risks that it might entail
• IPGRI makes choices among technologies and strategies based, in part, on the ability of its partners to apply them.

Scientific integrity and responsibility

• IPGRI strives for scientific excellence in all aspects of its work.
• IPGRI recognizes that, as a result of its international status, its locations and resource base, it is in a privileged position compared to many of its partners and seeks to use that privileged position solely for the benefit of its partners and the achievement of its mission.
• IPGRI gives full and prominent recognition to the work of its partners in collaborative activities and ensures that they are fully informed about, and are in agreement with, such activities.
• IPGRI staff members are expected to respect, in addition to IPGRI's own ethical principles and code of conduct, those of their respective professional societies or associations.
• Where codes of conduct relevant to plant genetic resources, such as the FAO Code of Conduct on Germplasm Collecting and Transfer, have been widely adopted internationally, IPGRI adheres to them and encourage its partners to do likewise.
• IPGRI seeks to maintain open communications with partners, collaborators and the scientific community at large.
• IPGRI projects developed and implemented with partners will comply with national and international legislation relevant to genetic resources and biodiversity, especially regarding legislation on access to genetic resources and the terms of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Accountability

• IPGRI accepts financial contributions only when they are consistent with IPGRI’s mandate and mission.
• IPGRI uses its financial resources solely for achieving its mission.
• As a publicly-funded organization, IPGRI should provide to donors and others relevant, transparent and high-standard financial and technical reports.
• IPGRI is committed to making the best use of its given resources for achieving its institutional mission.