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
A growing number of countries are taking measures to ensure access to and benefit sharing of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, but more must be done.
At the end of 2021, 68 countries had at least one legislative, administrative or policy measure in
place to ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, in accordance with the Nagoya Protocol. Furthermore, 79 countries reported to have measures in place to implement the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization entered into force on 12 October 2014 as a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Many countries, both parties and non-parties to the Nagoya Protocol, have made considerable progress towards putting in place access and benefit sharing frameworks.
As of 10 June 2022, 137 countries and the European Union have ratified the protocol. The secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity is engaging with countries to facilitate the process of publishing internationally recognized certificates of compliance.
Facilitating access to plant resources
The Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture facilitates access to plant genetic material for farmers and plant breeders to allow them to develop new crop varieties that can adapt agricultural production to changing environments, with the aim of enhancing global food security. The exchange of plant material provides an opportunity for sharing the monetary and non-monetary benefits arising from the use of such material with farmers in developing countries, and constitutes an important incentive for them to continue conserving and sustainably using plant genetic material.
In February 2021, there were 148 contracting parties to the treaty. To date, more than 85 000 contracts – known as standard material transfer agreements, used to facilitate the exchange of plant genetic material – have been concluded.