International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture


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Subsidiary Bodies 2026-2027

This document provides general information on the nature and work of subsidiary bodies and intersessional processes, as presented to the Governing Body in 2022 - IT/GB-9/22/17.3

Scientific Advisory Committee on the Global Information System of Article 17 (SAC-GLIS)

Feb 16, 2024, 14:12 PM
Title : Scientific Advisory Committee on the Global Information System of Article 17 (SAC-GLIS)
Open on load : No
EstablishmentEstablished by the Governing Body in 2015, by Resolution 3/2015 and reconvened by resolutions 5/2017, 4/2019 and 5/2022
 
Main PurposeTo advise the Secretary on:
  • general recommendations on the development and deployment of the Global Information System and its components as adopted by the Governing Body;
  • the discovery of new areas of work with potential impact on the System;
  • the selection of pilot activities for the Global Information System and, upon request of the Secretary, other initiatives and actions to sustain the operation of the Global Information System, and the further update of the Programme of Work.
  • to review, as may be required, the Programme of Work on GLIS for the consideration of the Governing Body at its Ninth Session;
  • to continue considering scientific and technical issues of relevance to DSI/GSD, and considering national legislation, as appropriate;
Full terms of reference
 
Chairperson(s)Ms Imke Thormann (Germany) and Mr Federico Condón (Uruguay)
 
Membership and composition
  • Up to 2 scientific experts from each Region, nominated by the Vice-chairpersons of the Governing Body of each respective Region;
  • 10 additional scientific and technical experts appointed by the Secretary including experts suggested by the regions and relevant stakeholders, taking into account the required range of technical expertise and regional balance as appropriate
 
LanguageEnglish
 
Document SymbolSAC-GLIS
 
Frequency of SessionsAt least one session per biennium, subject to the availability of resources 
 
Funding SourceExtra budgetary resources
 
DepartmentOCBT
 
First SessionNovember 2016
 
Pattern of Session2016; 2017; 2018; 2021; 2023; 2025
 
Subsidiary Bodies or GroupsNone

Previous biennia

Establishment Established by the Governing Body in 2013, with its mandate extended in 2015 and 2017. Re-established in 2022, with further decisions in 2023
 
Main purposeThe Governing Body decided to re-establish the Working Group to finalize the enhancement of the functioning of the Multilateral System by the Eleventh Session of the Governing Body. The process should build upon previous progress and achievements both in terms of structure and content and integrate new ideas, if relevant, and address, in a balanced manner, all three blocks of the package of measures developed previously (revised SMTA; expansion of Annex I; implementation measures through a Resolution of the Governing Body).
The Governing Body noted that while a range of views exist among Contracting Parties on the matter, Contracting Parties commit to working together towards adopting a package of measures to enhance the functioning of the Multilateral System through the process established in the present Resolution, with the following shared aims:
Increase the benefits that arise from the Multilateral System for all Contracting Parties and users, both monetary and non-monetary;
Increase user-based income to the Benefit-sharing Fund in a sustainable and predictable long-term manner;
Expand the crops and plant genetic diversity available through the Multilateral System;
Improve the availability of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture in the Multilateral System;
Make the Multilateral System more dynamic given that there are developments and emerging issues in science, innovation, plant breeding and global policy environment; Create legal certainty, administrative simplicity and transparency for everyone participating in the Multilateral System.

(Resolution 3/2022)

 
Chair and Vice-chair:Mr. Sunil Archak (India), Mr. Michael Ryan (Australia);
 
Membership and compositionThe Governing Body decided that the Working Group be open-ended, so that any Contracting Party may attend, provided that speaking rights are limited to a certain number of members.
In order to facilitate deliberations within the Working Group, each Region is requested to identify spokespersons, as follows: Up to 5 from the Africa Region; up to 5 from the Europe Region; up to 5 from the Asia Region; up to 5 from the Latin America and the Caribbean Region; up to 3 from the Near East Region; up to 2 from the North America Region; and up to 2 from the South West Pacific Region.
In order to facilitate active participation of observers in the deliberations of the Working Group, the Secretary is requested to invite the following groups to identify two spokespersons each: Civil society organizations; the seed industry; farmers’ organizations; and research centres and academia, including the CGIAR Centres. Due attention should be given to gender and geographic balance when identifying spokespersons.

Resolution 3/2022
 
LanguageArabic, English, French, Spanish
 
Document SymbolOWG-EFMLS
 
Funding SourceExtra-budgetary
 
DepartmentOCBT
 
First meetingMay 2014
 
Pattern of SessionDecember 2014; June 2015; October 2015; July 2016; March 2017; September 2017; October 2018; June 2019 (resumed October 2019), July 2023; April 2024; September 2024; April 2025; July 2025. 
 
Subsidiary bodies or groups
 
Further informationThe Enhancement Process | International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (fao.org)