Plant genetic resources are crucial for world agriculture, food security and the global economy. They are vital for the pharmaceutical industry and are important assests for developing countries rich in biodiversity. The patents and intellectual property rights (IPRs) associated with the development of new products are critical to trade in these resources. The relevant international agreements are discussed : the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); the World Trade Organization's TRIPS Agreement; and the Convention of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). The author provides the first full-scale account of how to integrate the requirements of the CBD into an equitable global IPR regime, taking into account ethical concerns, environmental and social impacts, technology transfer and traditional knowledge