Defend Farmers’ Rights, Protect Genetic Resources, Scientists Tell Government Ahead of Lima Meet

A group of Indian scientists has appealed to the central government to take a firm stand at the upcoming negotiations in Lima, Peru, to ensure that India’s sovereign rights and farmers’ interests over genetic resources are not compromised. The issue will be discussed at the 11th Session of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), scheduled from November 24 to 29.

Concerns Over Proposed Changes

The scientists have raised objections to proposed amendments in the benefit-sharing mechanism under the Treaty, warning that they could undermine India’s control over its genetic wealth. The proposed “enhancements” to the multilateral system may allow unrestricted international access to India’s national seed collections without fair compensation. They argue that the move threatens the long-standing rights of Indian farmers who have safeguarded the nation’s biodiversity for generations.

India’s Genetic Wealth at Risk

India, known for its vast agricultural biodiversity, holds millions of seed samples and plant genetic materials crucial for global food security. Around seven million genetic accessions have already been shared internationally under the current system. Experts say that while these resources have driven significant commercial profits for global seed and biotech firms, the monetary benefits returned to India have been negligible due to a flawed voluntary sharing framework.

Demand for Mandatory Benefit-Sharing System

The group of scientists, including Dinesh Abrol, Sarath Babu Balijepalli, and Suman Sahai, have demanded the introduction of a mandatory subscription model tied to the commercial turnover of companies using genetic resources. They argue that this would ensure fair financial returns to source nations and farmers. They also warned that unrestricted access beyond the existing list of 64 crops could violate India’s Biodiversity Act and weaken domestic control mechanisms.

Exam Oriented Facts

• The ITPGRFA is a global treaty ensuring conservation and fair use of plant genetic resources.
• India is one of the largest holders of agricultural biodiversity in the world.
• The current voluntary benefit-sharing mechanism under the Treaty has failed to generate adequate returns.
• The 11th Session of the ITPGRFA Governing Body will be held in Lima, Peru, in November 2025.

Call for Strong Diplomatic Stand

The scientists have urged the government to lead the Global South in defending the sovereign rights of developing countries over their biological assets. They emphasised that India must oppose any provision that dilutes national control and push for a fair, legally binding benefit-sharing system that ensures farmers and local communities are adequately compensated for their genetic contributions to global agriculture.