On Nov. 25, 1981, at the 21st session of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Conference in Rome, genetic resource conservation becomes an internationally politicized issue when many non-industrialized countries protest that it is done primarily by and for industrialized countries.

The Conference noted that the Director General’s proposed Programme of Work and Budget had been prepared against the background of the world food situation which despite developments remained disturbing, and under circumstances in which many countries were suffering from reduced levels of economic activity, high inflation, budgetary constraints, growing unemployment, balance of payments difficulties, debt burdens, and deteriorating terms of trade for some major agricultural commodities.