Agriculture & Food, Volume 11, 2023

Abstract: The preservation of local livestock breeds and plant varieties and its associated traditional knowledge of how to use them is becoming increasingly important. Intellectual property rights are a way of controlling access to local and traditional resources. Geographical indications are an important tool to conserve local genetic resources, to regulate access and property rights to them, to strengthen the rural economy and to allow the holders of traditional knowledge to share in the benefits in a fair manner. Collective trademarks are another way of protecting native livestock breeds and plant varieties. Further the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage offers an opportunity to protect nonphysical intellectual wealth, such as traditions and knowledge which are considered by UNESCO to be part of a place's cultural heritage. Biodiversity non-governmental organizations may also grant intellectual property rights to preserve autochthonous breeds and traditional knowledge. There are still many native livestock breeds to be revived and saved. Both for reasons of biodiversity and genetic resources, but also as valuable specialties for regional food supply chains. Therefore, there is a need to further explore the market for these indigenous specialties and the traditional knowledge associated with.