University of Vaasa - Vaasan yliopisto

SEED INDUSTRY RESPONSIBILITY TO
AGROBIODIVERSITY;
A DOCUMENT ANALYSIS OF CORPORATE SELF- vs.
NGO PERCEPTION
Abstract
Kleinsasser, Sabine, Schäfer, Astrid
137
The loss of agrobiodiversity (AB) has been identified as one of the major challenges for
humankind by experts since crop genetic diversity is the basis for plant breeding and crop
improvement. Today the major responsibility to provide sufficient and high quality seeds has
gradually moved from farmers/SMEs to transnational seed corporations. Hence, the question
arises how TNCs manage the assets which they control and stakeholders' ability to participate in
AB management. In our paper we merge the topics of CSR and AB management especially with
regard to conservation of PGRFA. In our empirical work we analysed corporate self perception
and NGO perception and want to present the outcomes of our document analysis in this paper.
Though it is one of the most controversial topics in corporate and NGO discussion, CSR
engagement in AB management so far has hardly been subject to scientific discussion.
Keywords: diversity, agrobiodiversity management, plant genetic resources for food
and agriculture, stakeholder participation
Introduction
While it is commonly acknowledged that biodiversity of natural life is under threat
there is still little public awareness that agrobiodiversity (AB) - in our paper we refer
to plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) only - is crucial to feed
the world's population. While the international discussion focuses on the situation in
developing countries, the loss of genetic diversity is especially worrisome in the
European context (Hammer et al. 2003; Negri 2005). The cost of wrong decisions by
those who control these assets – mostly large transnational corporations (TNCs) -
might assume alarming proportions for society at large. In our paper we try to answer
the question what seed companies actually do to improve AB management and
stakeholder participation. The special requirements to manage AB are: to foster
diversity and conservation of PGRFA as well as access to PGRFA and knowledge,
know-how and technology. As a major point of reference we adapted the GRI
Guidelines (GRI 2006) which constitute well acknowledged CSR rules of conduct.
We used this adapted framework 1 for our document analysis, thus merging the areas
of AB management and CSR. The results of our document analysis – which
constitute a first step in our empirical research on this topic – are presented in this
paper.
1 For further information on the framework, please visit http://www.sustainability.at/