Vital food crops will be protected worldwide under a new international agreement which comes into force today.

The UK is one of more than 50 countries committed to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, which aims to improve food security and promote sustainable farming.

The treaty aims to ensure that plant genetic resources, which are the property of the country in which they are found, are conserved, used sustainably, and that their benefits are shared fairly.

The UK will now grant access to seeds and genetic materials from essential human and animal food crops such as maize, peas, bananas, wheat and barley.

Benefits from the use of these plant materials, such as improved varieties, technical knowledge or commercial benefits will be shared with the countries granting access. Developed and developing countries alike will benefit from the exchange of plant material.

Food and Farming Minister Larry Whitty said:

"By allowing countries to share access to these resources, we can achieve greater food security.

"Most importantly, this move will benefit farmers in developing countries. Agriculture has a vital role in all societies, and by making these important resources more freely available, we can enable the world's poorest nations to develop their agriculture.

"Plant genetic resources for food and agriculture are vital raw material that farmers and plant breeders use to improve the quality and productivity of food crops. Farmers, plant breeders and researchers should make the most of the plant resources now available to help achieve the aims of the treaty."

BACKGROUND

1. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (IT/PGRFA) took seven years of intensive negotiations before it was adopted by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation at its Ministerial Conference on 3 November 2001. It is the first legally binding agreement specifically in the field of sustainable agriculture. It has the potential to play a major role in the achievement of world food security and poverty alleviation.

2. The UK signed the Treaty on 6 June 2002 and following completion of Parliamentary procedures deposited its instrument of ratification on 31 March 2004. On the same day several other European Community members also deposited their instruments of ratification, triggering the Treaty to come into force on 29th June 2004. On 31 March the European Community formally approved the Treaty.

3. The standard Material Transfer Agreement (MTA), which is central to the operation of the Treaty and covers the exchange of genetic resources, is still the subject of negotiation.

4. Annex 1 of the Treaty lists the crops under the multilateral system. All major plant crop, legume forage and grass forage genera are included.

5. The Treaty complements the wider objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) which the UK ratified in 1994.

6. It is expected that the first meetings of the members of the Treaty will take place later this year.

7. Further details, including signatories to the Treaty and a list of the plant species covered can be found at:
www.fao.org/ag/cgrfa/itpgr.htm