9th Session of Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

September 19, 2022

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar recently inaugurated the 9th Session of Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, which is being held in New Delhi from September 19 to 24 this year.

Key facts

The Governing Body convened as per Article 19 of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)
It focuses on aspects concerning general policy and implementation of the international treaty and the administrative and budgetary matters.
The event was set to take place in 2021 but was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is currently being organized under the theme “Celebrating the Guardians of Crop Diversity: Towards an Inclusive Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework”.
The theme aims to give recognition to the world’s small farmers in the effective management of plant genetic resources for food and nutritional security.
During the event, Union Agriculture Minister highlighted the importance of the protection of pant genetic resources, which are currently threatened because of habitat loss and climate change. Plant genetic resources are critical to solve breeding challenges.
On this occasion, India proposed an Awareness, Outreach and Capacity Building Programme that would promote farmers’ rights across the globe.

About ITPGRFA

The ITPGRFA is a legally binding multilateral agreement signed during the 31^st session of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome in 2001. The treaty took effect on June 29, 2004. It currently has 149 contracting parties, including India. It was created in lines with the Convention on Biological Diversity. Its objective is to achieve food security through the conservation, exchange and sustainable use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA), equitable sharing of profits from the use of PGRFA and the recognition of farmers’ rights.

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