Plant treaty: Another step towards fairer benefit sharing at 12th meeting of Ad Hoc Open-Ended Working Group

Sub :Env

Sec: Int conventions

Meeting on Plant Genetic Resources Treaty Concludes in Rome:

The 12th Meeting of the Working Group on the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) wrapped up in Rome on September 19, 2024.
This meeting is crucial for global food security and sustainable farming.

Details:

Purpose: The meeting aimed to improve the system for sharing plant genetic resources internationally.
Participants: Delegates from around the world, including farmers, civil society, and seed industry representatives.
Main Discussion Topics:
- Digital Sequence Information (DSI): How to share plant genetic data fairly
- Expanding Annex I: Potentially adding more crops to the list of 64 important food and forage crops
- Benefit-sharing payments: Determining fair compensation for resource providers
New Ideas:
- A subscription mechanism to ensure communities benefit from providing access to genetic resources, even if products don’t reach the market.
- Two payment options: upon registration or upon product commercialization

About the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA):

It is a legally binding comprehensive agreement adopted in November, 2001 at Rome during the 31st session of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, which entered into force on June 29, 2004, and currently has 149 Contracting Parties, including India.
The treaty provides solutions to achieve food and nutritional security as well as climate-resilient agriculture. Countries are interdependent for PGRFA and consequently, a global order is essential to facilitate access and benefit sharing.
It formally acknowledges the enormous contribution of indigenous people and small-holder farmers as traditional custodians of the world’s food crops.
The treaty was aimed at:
- recognizing the significant contribution of farmers to the diversity of crops that feed the world;
- establishing a global system to provide farmers, plant breeders and scientists with access to plant genetic materials; and
- ensuring that recipients share the benefits they derive from the use of these genetic materials with the countries where they have originated.

Digital Sequencing Information (DSI):

DSI is essentially genetic information in digital form. It can be thought of as the “genetic code” of a plant, stored as data in computers.
Importance in agriculture:
- DSI allows scientists to study plant genetics without needing physical plant samples.
- It’s crucial for developing new crop varieties, understanding plant diseases, and improving crop yields.
- DSI can help in breeding plants that are more resistant to pests, diseases, or climate change.

Source: DTE