Impact

The Multilateral System of Access and Benefit-sharing of the International Treaty on PGRFA facilitates the exchange of more than 2 million crop genetic resources for purposes of agricultural research and breeding. The Multilateral System is instrumental to achieving the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources, as well as the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use, contributing to sustainable agriculture and food security.

Key results

New biodiversity deal draws renewed attention to the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources

Since the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity came into force in 2014, the number of Parties that have ratified it has risen to 138, including 137 countries and the European Union, representing 70 percent of all Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The number of Contracting Parties to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (International Plant Treaty) has reached 150, including the European Union, as of 1 January 2023, with two countries joining in 2022. By the end of 2022, 88 countries have submitted their national report to provide information about their implementation of the treaty’s provisions, including on access and benefit-sharing measures; nine countries made their submissions in 2022. The number of Standard Material Transfer Agreements (SMTAs) has been also increasing, from 55 566 in 2015 to 91 352 in 2022, indicating that more users are benefiting from accessing plant genetic resources for research, breeding and training.

Capacity development

Methodology

Tier: I

Data

Data collection and reporting

Related link

External links