Itpgrfa

The information on International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for food and Agriculture

1. Capacity building in relation to all aspects of the ITPGRFA in Pakistan Enhancing understanding and implementation of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) Abdul GHAFOOR, PGRI, [email protected]

2. The Convention on B iological Diversity (CBD) was adopted in 1992 and entered into force in 1993. The CBD recognized that exceptional issues of PGRFA need to be settled within the FAO Global System on PGRFA. Treaty negotiated in FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Treaty deals with special problems of PGRFA and is in harmony with CBD. Treaty was adopted by FAO Conference, 3 November 2001 and came into force in June 2004. Background

3. The ITPGRFA is a comprehensive international agreement with aims at guaranteeing food security through the conservation, exchange and sustainable use of the world’s plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, as well as the fair and equitable benefit sharing arising from its use. It also recognizes Farmers’ Rights International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)

4. The treaty aims at- Recognizing the enormous 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 material. Ensuring that recipients share benefits they derive from the use of these genetic materials with the countries where they have been originated.

5. Article 1 – Objectives Conservation and sustainable use of PGR for food and agriculture and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of their use, in harmony with the CBD, for sustainable agriculture and food security . These objectives will be attained by closely linking this Treaty to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and to the Convention on Biological Diversity. PART I – INTRODUCTION Article 1 Objectives Article 2 Use of terms Article 3 Scope

6. Article 2 - Use of terms In-situ conservation: conservation of ecosystems, natural habitats, maintenance and recovery of viable populations of species in the centre of origin and in the centre of diversity. Genetic material: functional units of heredity. Variety: plant grouping within a single botanical taxon of the lowest known rank. Ex-situ collection: a collection of PGR for food and agriculture maintained outside their natural habitat, i.e ., genebanks . Centre of origin: a geographical area where a plant species, either domesticated or wild , first developed its distinctive properties. Centre of crop diversity: a geographic area containing a high level of genetic diversity for crop species under in-situ conditions. These definitions are not intended to cover trade in commodities

7. Article 3 – Scope This Treaty relates to plant genetic resources for food and agriculture . PART II - GENERAL PROVISIONS Article 4 General Obligations Article 5 Conservation, Exploration, Collection, Characterization, Evaluation and Documentation of PGRFA Article 6 Sustainable Use of Plant Genetic Resources Article 7 National Commitments and International Cooperation Article 8 Technical Assistance Article 4 - General Obligations Each Contracting Party shall ensure the conformity of its laws, regulations and procedures with its obligations as provided in this Treaty.

8. Article 5 - Conservation, Exploration, Collection, Characterization, Evaluation and Documentation of PGRFA Survey, inventory, status of diversity. Promote collection of PGRFA and associated information on those PGR that are under threat or are of potential use. Promote and support on-farm conservation. In-situ conservation of wild crop relatives and wild plants for food production. Efficient and sustainable system of ex-situ conservation, documentation, characterization, regeneration and evaluation, for improving the sustainable use of PGRFA. Monitor the maintenance of the viability, degree of variation, and the genetic integrity of collections of PGRFA. Steps to minimize, eliminate threats to PGRFA

9. Article 6 - Sustainable Use of PGR Appropriate policy and legal measures that promote sustainable use of PGRFA Fair agricultural policies, development and maintenance of diverse farming systems. Strengthening research to conserve diversity by maximizing intra- and inter-specific for farmers’ benefit. Promoting participatory plant breeding. Broadening the genetic base of crops and increasing the range of genetic diversity available to farmers. Promoting the use of underutilized species. Supporting on-farm management , conservation and sustainable use. Reviewing and adjusting breeding strategies, variety release and seed distribution.

10. Article 7 - National Commitments & International Cooperation Establishing or strengthening the capabilities to conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA. Enhancing international activities to promote conservation, evaluation, documentation , genetic enhancement, plant breeding, seed multiplication, sharing , providing access, and exchanging of PGRFA, and appropriate information and technology. Maintaining and strengthening the institutional arrangements.

11. Article 8 - Technical Assistance The Contracting Parties agree to promote the provision of technical assistance to Contracting Parties , especially those that are developing countries or countries with economies in transition , either bilaterally or through the appropriate international organizations, with the objective of facilitating the implementation of this Treaty .

12. Article 9 - Farmers’ Rights Enormous contribution of indigenous communities, and farmers, particularly in the centers of origin and crop diversity. Realizing Farmers’ Rights, as they relate to PGRFA. National legislation, protect and promote Farmers ’ Rights, including: Traditional knowledge relevant to PGRFA. Right to equitably participate in sharing benefits arising from the utilization of PGRFA. Right to participate in decisions , at national level on conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA. PART III - FARMERS’ RIGHTS Article 9 Farmers’ Rights

13. Article 10 - Multilateral System (MLS) of Access and Benefit-sharing (ABS) Recognition of sovereign rights of States over their PGRFA, including “ the authority to determine access to national resources and is subject to national legislation ”. Agree to establish a multilateral system , which is efficient, effective, and transparent, both to facilitate access to PGRFA, and to share, in a fair and equitable way , the benefits arising from the utilization of these resources, on a complementary and mutually reinforcing basis. PART IV - THE MULTILATERAL SYSTEM OF ACCESS AND BENEFIT-SHARING Article 10 Multilateral System of Access and Benefit-sharing Article 11 Coverage of the Multilateral System Article 12 Facilitated access to plant genetic resources for food and agriculture within the Multilateral System Article 13 Benefit-sharing in the Multilateral System

14. Article 11 - Coverage of the Multilateral System (MLS) MLS cover the PGRFA ( list annexed ) that are under the management and control of the State and in the public domain. Take appropriate measures to encourage natural and legal persons within their jurisdiction who hold PGRFA to include in the MLS. The MLS shall also include the PGRFA held in the ex-situ collections of the International Agricultural Research Centers of CGIAR system (> 700,000).

15. Article 12 - Facilitated access to PGRFA within the MLS Facilitate access to PGRFA under the MLS as defined. Necessary legal or other appropriate measures to provide such access to other Contracting Parties through the MLS. Access for the purpose of utilization and conservation for research, breeding and training for food and agriculture (exclusive of chemical, pharmaceutical/non-food/feed uses). Free of charge, or, when a fee is charged, it shall be minimal. Passport data and other associated available non-confidential descriptive information shall be made available with the PGRFA.

16. Recipients shall not claim any intellectual property or other rights. Access to PGRFA under development will be at the discretion of its developer, during the period of its development. Access to PGRFA protected by intellectual and other property rights. Consistent with relevant international agreements, and with relevant national laws. PGRFA under in-situ conditions will be provided according to national legislation or, in the absence of such legislation, in accordance with such standards as may be set by the Governing Body.

17. The PGRFA under SMTA – the benefit-sharing provisions. In case of contractual disputes arising under such MTAs, discretion exclusively with the parties to those MTAs. In emergency disaster situations, the Contracting Parties agree to provide facilitated access to appropriate PGRFA in the MLS for the purpose of contributing to the re-establishment of agricultural systems, in cooperation with disaster relief coordinators.

18. Article 13 - Benefit-sharing in the Multilateral System Access to PGRFA constitutes itself a major benefit of the Multilateral System and agree that benefits accruing there from shall be shared fairly and equitably in accordance with the provisions of this Article . The benefits arising from the use, including commercial, of PGRFA under the MLS shall be shared fairly and equitably.

19. Exchange of information Access to and transfer of technology Access to technologies for the conservation, characterization, evaluation and use of PGRFA. Access to transfer of technology. c) Capacity-building Establishing/strengthening programs for scientific and technical education and training in conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA. iii) Carrying out scientific research preferably, and where possible for such research in fields where they are needed.

20. Sharing of monetary and other benefits of commercialization. To take measures in order to achieve commercial benefit-sharing, through the involvement of private and public sectors in research and technology development. A recipient who commercializes a product that is a PGRFA and that incorporates material accessed from the MLS, shall pay to the mechanism referred to in the treaty (an equitable share of the benefits).

21. Article 14 - Global Plan of Action (GPA) Contracting Parties should promote effective implementation of GPA including through national actions and , as appropriate, international cooperation to provide a coherent framework , for capacity-building , technology transfer and exchange of information, taking into account the provisions of treaty. PART V - SUPPORTING COMPONENTS Article 14 Global Plan of Action Article 15 Ex Situ Collections of PGRFA held by CGIAR Article 16 International Plant Genetic Resources Networks Article 17 The Global Information System on PGRFA

22. Article 15 – Ex-Situ Collections of PGRFA held by CGIAR centers a) PGRFA (collected before or after enforcement of treaty) held by IARCs shall be made available. i ) The IARCs shall periodically inform the Governing Body about the MTAs entered according to a schedule to be established. ii) The PGRFA from where collected, shall be provided on demand, without any MTA. iii) Benefits arising under the MTA shall be applied, in particular, to the conservation and sustainable use of the PGRFA, in national and regional programs, especially in centers of diversity and the least developed countries. c) IARCs recognize the authority of the Governing Body to provide policy guidance relating to ex-situ collections. d) Scientific and technical facilities in which such ex-situ collections are conserved shall remain under the authority of the IARCs. e) Upon request by an IARC, the Secretary shall provide appropriate technical support.

23. Article 16 - International Plant Genetic Resources Networks Existing cooperation in international PGRFA networks will be encouraged/developed, so as to achieve as complete coverage as possible of PGRFA. Encourage all relevant institutions, including governmental , private, non-governmental, research, breeding and other institutions , to participate in the international networks.

24. Article 17 - The Global Information System on PGRFA Develop and strengthen a global information system on PGRFA to contribute sharing of benefits by making information on PGRFA available to all Contracting Parties. Early warning should be provided about hazards that threaten efficient maintenance of PGRFA, with a view to safeguarding the material . The Contracting Parties shall cooperate with the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture of the FAO in its periodic reassessment of the state of the world’s PGRFA in order to facilitate the updating of the rolling Global Plan of Action.

25. Article 18 - Financial Resources Objectives of funding strategy shall be to enhance the availability, transparency , efficiency and effectiveness of the financial resources to implement activities under this Treaty. In order to mobilize funding for priority activities, plans and programs and taking the Global Plan of Action into account, the Governing Body shall periodically establish a target for such funding . PART VI - FINANCIAL PROVISIONS Article 18 Financial Resources

26. Funding strategy a) The developed countries shall provide funds, and the developing countries will avail financial resources through bilateral, regional and multilateral channels. d) Members agrees to undertake, and provide financial resources for national activities for the conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA in accordance to national capabilities and financial resources. The financial resources shall not be used in areas related to international trade in commodities. e) The financial benefits from MLS will be part of the funding strategy. Voluntary contributions by Contracting Parties, the private sector, NGOs and other sources. The Governing Body shall consider modalities of a strategy to promote such contributions. Priority will be given to the implementation of agreed plans and programs for farmers in developing countries, who conserve and sustainably utilize PGRFA.

27. Article 19 - Governing Body A Governing Body composed of all Contracting Parties . All decisions shall be by consensus unless by consensus another method of arriving at a decision on certain measures is reached, except that consensus shall always be required in relation to Articles 23 and 24 . PART VII - INSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS Article 19 Governing Body Article 20 Secretary Article 21 Compliance Article 22 Settlement of Disputes Article 23 Amendments of the Treaty Article 24 Annexes Article 25 Signature Article 26 Ratification, Acceptance or Approval Article 27 Accession Article 28 Entry into force Article 29 Member Organizations of FAO Article 30 Reservations Article 31 Non-Parties Article 32 Withdrawals Article 33 Termination Article 34 Depositary Article 35 Authentic Texts

28. Article 20 – Secretary The Secretary of the Governing Body be appointed by DG, FAO with the approval of the Governing Body. a) Arrange administrative support for sessions of the Governing Body. b) Assist the Governing Body in carrying out its functions including the performance of specific tasks that the Governing Body may decide to assign. c) Report on its activities to the Governing Body. The Secretary shall communicate to all Parties and to the DG a) Decisions of the Governing Body within sixty days of adoption. b) Information received from Contracting Parties in accordance with the provisions of this Treaty. Provide documentation in the six languages of the United Nations. Cooperate with other organizations and treaty bodies, including the Secretariat of the CBD, in achieving the objectives of this Treaty.

29. Food crops 1- Breadfruit, 2- Asparagus, 3- Oat, 4- Beet, 5- Brassica complex, 6- Pigeon Pea, 7- Chickpea, 8- Citrus, 9- Coconut, 10- Major aroids, 11- Carrot, 12- Yams, 13- Finger Millet, 14- Strawberry, 15-Sunflower, 16- Barley, 17- Sweet Potato, 18- Grass pea, 19- Lentil, 20- Apple, 21- Cassava, 22- Banana, 23- Rice, 24- Pearl Millet, 25- Beans, 26- Pea, 27- Rye, 28- Potato, 29- Eggplant, 30- Sorghum, 31- Triticale, 32- Wheat, 33- Faba Bean, 34- Cowpea, 35- Maize LEGUME FORAGES 36- Astragalus , 37- Canavalia , 38- Coronilla , 39- Hedysarum , 40- Lathyrus , 41- Lespedeza, 42- Lotus, 43- Lupinus , 44- Medicago , 45- Melilotus , 46- Onobrychis , 47- Ornithopus , 48- Prosopis , 49- Pueraria , 50- Trifolium p GRASS FORAGES 51- Andropogon , 52- Agropyron , 53- Agrostis , 54- Alopecurus , 55- Arrhenatherum , 56- Dactylis , 57- Festuca , 58- Lolium , 59- Phalaris , 60- Phleum , 61- Poa , 62- Tripsacum , OTHER FORAGES 63- Atriplex , 64- Salsola

30. Where? Svalbard, Norway 74-81°N, 10-35 °E

31. Short Messages Collection, conservation and utilization of PGRFA at national, regional and international levels. Gap filling in genetic diversity, cultivated, wild. Sustainable utilization of PGRFA must increase! Minimizing genetic erosion of PGRFA. The global long term, safety duplication system should be more widely used ! Generosity for cooperation give-take PGRFA Join the noble cause for food security & safe future of mankind.

32. www.planttreaty.org www.wikipedia.org www.cbd.int www.cms.int www.ramsar.org www.cites.org http://www.iisd.ca/biodiv/cgrfa13/18july.html http://www.abs-initiative.info/stakeholders-and-topics/agriculture/ http://www.fao.org/nr/cgrfa/en/ http ://www.bioversityinternational.org/e-library/ Read more