Plant Treaty

International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

Former name
Type
Context

The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), also known as the Plant Treaty, is a comprehensive international agreement in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It aims to guarantee food security through the conservation, exchange, and sustainable use of the world's plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA), as well as the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their use.

Background

The Plant Treaty was adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations on 3 November 2001 and entered into force on 29 June 2004. It was developed in response to the growing recognition of the importance of plant genetic resources in ensuring global food security and the need for a multilateral system to facilitate access to these resources.

Objectives

The main objectives of the Plant Treaty are:

• The conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.
• The fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of these resources, in harmony with the CBD.

Key Provisions

Multilateral System

The Treaty establishes a Multilateral System (MLS) to facilitate access to a specified list of plant genetic resources and to share the benefits arising from their use. The MLS covers 64 crops and forages that are crucial for food security and interdependence.

Farmers' Rights

The Treaty recognizes the contributions of farmers to the diversity of crops and calls for the protection of Farmers' Rights. These include the protection of traditional knowledge, the right to participate in decision-making, and the right to equitably participate in sharing benefits.

Benefit-sharing

The Treaty outlines mechanisms for benefit-sharing, including the exchange of information, access to and transfer of technology, capacity-building, and the sharing of monetary and other benefits arising from commercialization.

Global Plan of Action

The Treaty supports the implementation of the Global Plan of Action for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, which provides a framework for the conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA.

Governance

The governing body of the Treaty is composed of representatives from all Contracting Parties. It oversees the implementation of the Treaty, adopts amendments, and provides guidance on policy and technical matters.

Challenges and Criticisms

While the Plant Treaty has been praised for its innovative approach to access and benefit-sharing, it faces challenges such as ensuring compliance, securing adequate funding, and addressing the needs of all stakeholders, including smallholder farmers.

Also see

• Convention on Biological Diversity
• Food and Agriculture Organization
• Farmers' Rights
• Genetic resources
• Sustainable agriculture