The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture was approved by the FAO Conference on 3 November 2001. FAO experts say that it is a unique comprehensive international agreement that takes into consideration the particular needs of farmers and plant breeders, and aims to guarantee the future availability of the diversity of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture on which they depend, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits. See the text of the treaty at ftp://ext-ftp.fao.org/waicent/pub/cgrfa8/iu/ITPGRe.pdf (59 K); an FAO press release at http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/OIS/PRESS_NE/PRESSENG/2001/pren0181.htm or a news story on the signed treaty at http://www.fao.org/ag/magazine/0112sp3.htm. For further information, consult http://www.fao.org/ag/cgrfa/default.htm or contact [email protected].

08/02/2002