14/03/2011

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has become the first International Research Center to report through electronic means on all their Standard Material Transfer Agreements (SMTAs) in which they are the provider.  The Secretariat of the International Treaty has worked closely with the IRRI to facilitate the submission of information contained in the SMTAs and electronic copies of these contracts to the Secretariat.  

The Information Technology System that has been put in place by the Secretariat of the International Treaty to facilitate the reporting obligations of the provider of material contains now more than 2000 standard agreements from this institution.  The contracts reported cover the period from January 2007 until the last quarter of 2010.  Other centers from the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), as well as national gene banks from Contracting Parties, are considering adhering to similar agreed procedures.