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The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), adopted in 2001, is a global response to promote the conservation of plant genetic resources and to protect farmer’s rights to access and have fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of their use. Sustainable use of plant genetic resources is fundamental for achieving food and nutrition security and for a progressive realization of the right to food.

The development of specific national policies, legal instruments and supporting mechanisms to prevent the erosion of and ensure the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources for food and agriculture are key elements to improve food security governance at national level.
Article 9 of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture refers to farmer’s rights and relates well to a human rights-based approach as it covers participation, empowerment, transparency and the rule of law, which are the some of the human rights principles relating to the process that should be followed in addressing the right to adequate food.
In this context, the project collaborates with the Secretariat of the ITPGRFA and other divisions in FAO in order to provide technical support to address issues related to the conservation and use of plant genetic resources from a broad perspective including food and nutrition security in the context of the right to food.

The project is also working with the Secretariat in a study that explores the linkages between the concept of Farmer’s Rights and the Right to Food, by analyzing relevant articles in the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the Right to Food Guidelines.