Search

RATIONALE - Research and innovation in coffee genetics plays a crucial role for the sustainability of the coffee global sector in a context of climate change. Effective management and improvement of coffee genetic resources (CGR) relies on the exchange of resources such as genetic material, data or knowledge between different countries and across continents. It often involves global collaboration among a range of diverse actors interested in CGR but with different capacities, aspirations and motivations. Considering that access and sharing of research inputs is central for well-functioning and sustained collaboration, this paper develops a framework that considers the interplay between regulations, organizations, collaborative relationships (projects) and resources as determinants of access and sharing of research inputs, which in turn affects the research processes, sustainability and science and innovation outcomes. Our expectation is that global collaborative networks actively address each of these characteristics in ways that help attain multiple goals. METHODS - This paper draws from an empirical network analysis of an online survey conducted in December 2018 on a sample of 458 individuals involved worldwide in research activities related to coffee genetic resources and breeding as well as a case study analysis on how World Coffee Research sponsored projects govern the access, exchange and collaborative use of coffee genetic resources (CGR) for international coffee research in different research settings. RESULTS - Social network analysis results are presented according the following three characteristics (Bodin & Crona, 2009): i) level of network cohesion; ii) groups connectedness; iii) network centralization. Findings reveal: i) a well-connected network around a giant component, which favors the pooling of resources and collective action strategies; ii) strong interdependences between producing and nonproducing countries; iii) a limited number of organization

This genomics global governance research study presents the dynamics and the evolving nature of salient challenges that global genomics initiatives encounter in designing new models for data management, exchange, and collaboration across disciplines, sectors, and countries. Using a multiple case study approach, we assessed and compared organizational responses across diverse genomics initiatives. The richness of a comparative qualitative analysis clearly shows the complexity addressed by genomics initiatives and, importantly, expands current studies by moving beyond an open versus property regime dichotomy. Although we identify some common themes, fundamental differences emerge in the way genomics initiatives set goals, manage heterogeneity, define resources, devise governance, and enable data sharing. Such differences demonstrate the ongoing processes of adapting governance structures, management processes, and organizational design solutions that are implemented in response to different social, technical, and policy environments. We find that genomics initiatives largely benefit from and are shaped by the engagement with large communities of scientists to rethink and design shared rules and guidelines for data exchange and use. Our study provides direct guidance to future global genomics initiatives, but it also offers a benchmark for research in the omics field broadly, both in terms of design and methodological approaches to understand the emerging forms of scientific governance and innovation ecosystems.

Reduction of global food insecurity depends upon the mobilization of genetic diversity for agricultural research and innovation. Yet increased regulation of genetic materials is profoundly affecting the way agricultural research is conducted, particularly international research that requires access to diverse germplasm. This study draws from an international survey of researchers in USAID Feed the Future Innovation Labs to understand how regulations affect access, exchange and use of genetic material within an international collaborative research environment. Although the effects of regulation depend on the research context – crop, sector, collaborative relationships, country and institutional source – transaction costs are increasing and researchers are changing strategies to access genetic material. The new regulatory environment is merging a traditional informal exchange system, perceived to be more open, with a more formal system that sets rules on access and use of genetic materials to address social, economic and environmental goals. (Résumé d'auteur)