Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture to meet in New Delhi  

19 - 24 September 2022 | New Delhi, India

The world is currently facing the triple threat of climate change, biodiversity loss and rising food insecurity. In this scenario, conserving crop diversity is even more vital for the future of humanity.

Crop diversity and the availability of a diverse diet is supported by a variety of actors, such as farmers, local and indigenous communities, gene bank managers and researchers, working in collaboration. They are unsung heroes who contribute directly to global food security.

Gene banks around the world play a critical role in safeguarding the seeds and other plant material that grow into the crops that feed us.

Farmers and local and indigenous communities around the world play an enormous role in the variety of the food crops available to humanity today. They are simultaneously custodians and innovators, who have managed the world’s crops and plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) for millennia.

It is important that the key guardians of crop diversity are given due attention in international fora, such as the UN Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which is expected to be as much a turning point in conserving biodiversity as the Paris Climate Accord has been for climate action.^[1]

Every segment of society has a role to play in saving the diversity of the plants that feed the world. In order to tackle the substantial risks of crop biodiversity loss, we must mobilize support from all sectors of society. Farmers, gene banks, seed companies, the food industry, consumers, teachers, parents, governments – everybody has an important role to play.

The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture works with farmers, plant breeders and policy-makers around the world to save, share and take care of the seeds and other plant materials that feed us all.

The Governing Body (GB) of the International Treaty is the global forum for PGRFA, which meets biennially. The Ninth Session (GB-9) is being hosted by the Government of India in New Delhi from 19-24 September 2022. The theme of the session is “Celebrating the Guardians of Crop Diversity: towards an inclusive post-2020 Global Diversity Framework,” and will shine a light on the unsung heroes, curators and custodians of PGRFA.

The Session will bring together delegates from 149 Contracting Parties (member countries and the European Union), plus experts, observers, non-governmental organizations, scientists, farmers’ representatives and other international organizations. GB-9 will make a series of decisions for the future work and activities of the International Treaty. The Session will be preceded by two days of regional and inter-regional consultations, and a Special Event at the Pullman Aerocity New Delhi.

Taking Care of the Seeds that Feed the World

Key participants at GB-9 Inauguration & Opening include:

• H.E. Qu Dongyu, Director-General, FAO
• H.E. Narendra Singh Tomar, Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, India
• Governing Body Chair, Ms Yasmina El Bahloul, Morocco
• 149 Contracting Parties^[2]
• Farmers’ Organizations, NGOs, Civil Society Organizations, etc

It All Starts With The Seed 

Where and when: 19 – 24 September 2022 / Opening Ceremony at 10:00 am in the Plenary Hall (“Peacock Ballroom”) at the Pullman Aerocity New Delhi, India

Simultaneous translation available: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish, and Hindi will be provided during this session.

The Opening Ceremony, Closing Ceremony and Plenary sessions will be open to the media.

@PlantTreaty

^[1] The GBF is currently under negotiation for possible adoption at the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity, scheduled to take place in December 2022.

^[2] Soon to be 150