Biodiversity and the appropriation of women's knowledge

In the past few years research institutions and development organizations have 'discovered' the relevance of men farmers' indigenous knowledge of genetic resource management and, after some delay, that of women farmers as well. At the same time, attention has been drawn to the global need to conserve biological diversity. This article argues that interest in women's knowledge and in biodiversity should be seen in the wider context of international economic and agricultural policies. [author]