International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

Venue

The meeting was held in Rome, Italy on September 19, 2024.

Participants

Participants included global delegates, members of civil society, farmers’ organisations, and representatives from the seed industry.

Focus of discussion

The delegates focused discussions on three main hotspots:

• Digital Sequence Information (DSI) and how to share plant genetic information responsibly to ensure fair benefits for all involved.
• Expanding Annex I, which is a list of 35 food crops and 29 forage crops considered important for food security. The group discussed whether to add more important plant species to make sharing easier between countries.
• Payment structures for benefit sharing: Delegates considered how to set fair prices for sharing plant resources to ensure resource providers are fairly compensated.

Objective 

The primary objective of the meeting was to establish a fairer system for sharing the benefits derived from plant genetic resources used in agriculture.

Outcomes

Delegates introduced a new subscription mechanism designed to ensure communities benefit from providing access to genetic resources, even in cases where products developed from these resources fail to reach commercialisation. 

The mechanism offers two benefit-sharing options: one involving payment upon registration, and the other payment upon commercialisation of a product.

It also examined the connection between genetic resources under the Treaty and those governed by the UN Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

About

It is an agreement between countries to manage and share plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

It was established in 2001 to facilitate the fair sharing of benefits arising from plant genetic resources.

Members

As of September 2022, 149 countries and the European Union were contracting parties to the treaty, including India.

Coverage

It covers 64 major crops, which account for about 80% of the world's plant-derived food. 

Objectives 

Access to genetic materials 

The treaty provides access to genetic materials for research, breeding, and training for food and agriculture.

Benefit sharing 

Recipients of genetic materials must share any benefits they derive from their use with the countries where the materials originated.

Conservation 

The treaty promotes the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources.

Fairness 

The treaty ensures that the benefits of plant genetic resources are shared fairly and equitably. 

Climate change adaptation 

The treaty helps address the challenges of climate change adaptation and crop diversity loss.

Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS)

It is a global issue that involves the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits that result from the use of genetic resources. It's based on the idea that both users and providers of genetic resources can benefit from access to them and that the benefits should be shared equitably.

ABS is governed by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Nagoya Protocol, a multilateral environmental agreement. The Nagoya Protocol provides for the development of model contractual clauses, codes of conduct, and guidelines for mutually agreed terms.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements about the “International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)” : 

1. It is an agreement established in 2001 between countries to manage and share plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.
2. It covers all of the world's plant-derived food.
3. The treaty provides access to genetic materials for research, breeding, and training for food and agriculture.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

A.Only one

B.Only two

C. All Three

D.None

Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: 

It is an agreement between countries to manage and share plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

It was established in 2001 to facilitate the fair sharing of benefits arising from plant genetic resources.

Statement 2 is incorrect:

The 12th Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-Ended Working Group on the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) was successfully held in Rome, Italy.

It covers 64 major crops, which account for about 80% of the world's plant-derived food.

Statement 3 is correct:

Objective:

Access to genetic materials 

The treaty provides access to genetic materials for research, breeding, and training for food and agriculture.

Benefit sharing

Recipients of genetic materials must share any benefits they derive from their use with the countries where the materials originated.

Conservation 

The treaty promotes the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources.

Fairness 

The treaty ensures that the benefits of plant genetic resources are shared fairly and equitably.

Climate change adaptation 

The treaty helps address the challenges of climate change adaptation and crop diversity loss.