Plant genetic resources are crucial for world agriculture, food security and the global economy. The patents and intellectual property rights (IPRs) associated with the development of new crops and other products are often critical to trade. Yet there is no unified international framework for a fair IPR regime in genetic resources. This book examines the international agreements relevant to IPRs: the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the World Trade Organization's TRIPS Agreement; and the Convention of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). It sets out to establish an equitable IPR regime for biodiversity taking into account: ethical concerns over patenting life forms; environmental and social impacts; technology transfer; and the relation between traditional knowledge and IPRs. The book provides the first full-scale account of how to integrate the requirements of the CBD into the global IPR regime. Published in association with the World Conservation Union.