Genetic resources for food and agriculture as commons 1

Abstract

This chapter analyses how original the Belgian context is – and especially the federal nature of the regime – for the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol. To what extent must the Belgian legal order and environmental policies be adapted in order to comply with the Protocol? What are the political and institutional challenges the ratification process will have to face? These questions are not only interesting per se: the Belgian case is interesting as it allows us to broach some of the governance issues federal states are likely to present when implementing environmental treaties. In addition, Belgium is a key user of genetic resources.