The 8th Session of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) took place in Rome on 11-16 November 2019. One of the items on the agenda was ‘Consideration of digital sequence information in accordance with Resolution 13/2017’. By Resolution 13/2017, the Governing Body invited contracting parties, other governments, relevant stakeholders and individuals with relevant expertise to provide information regarding “digital sequence information” on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. Information documents IT/GB-8/19/16.1/Inf.1 and IT/GB-8/19/16.1/Inf.1Add.1 contain the submissions of information and views received before and after 17 May 2019 respectively. These documents, as well as the meeting report, are available at http://www.fao.org/plant-treaty/meetings/meetings-detail/en/c/1111365/. The ITPGRFA is an FAO international instrument that promotes the conservation and sustainable use of agricultural biological diversity of plants which entered into force in 2004. Contact [email protected] for more information.