Rome, Italy
May 22, 2026
On the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture has released a landmark publication, A comprehensive analysis of the operations of the Multilateral System – Insights and key figures 2025. The Report provides the first integrated review of 18 years of implementation of the International Treaty's Multilateral System of Access and Benefit‑sharing (MLS). The launch event also forms part of the celebrations marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption of the International Treaty by the FAO Conference, highlighting a quarter‑century of international cooperation to conserving and sharing the world’s crop diversity.
Drawing on the Data Store of the Multilateral System, the Global Information System on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, other global datasets, and direct interviews with stakeholders, the analysis combines quantitative data and real-world experiences to show how the Multilateral System has evolved and why it matters for resilient and sustainable food systems.
A global mechanism supporting food and agriculture
The analysis released shows that, as of January 2025, approximately 2.6 million plant materials (crop accessions and other seed samples) have been made available through the MLS, more than double the amount recorded in 2013. Since 2007, nearly 7 million genetic resource samples have been shared across borders through over 110 000 Standard Material Transfer Agreements (SMTAs), the legal instrument governing their exchange for research, breeding and training.
The report shows that these exchanges have connected gene banks, plant breeders, and farmers as providers in 66 countries with recipients in 189 countries. Only five major crops - wheat, rice, maize, barley and chickpea - account for 95 percent of all exchanges, underscoring their central role in plant breeding and global food systems.
“By enabling the global exchange of crop diversity, the Multilateral System strengthens food security at a time of growing changes in climate, natural disasters, conflicts and other crises,” said Kent Nnadozie, Secretary of the International Treaty. “It provides plant breeders, farmers and researchers with access to the diversity needed to develop resilient crops, underscoring the importance of sustained cooperation.”
Established by the International Treaty, the MLS functions as a global pool of crop diversity, enabling countries to both contribute and access plant genetic resources. It currently covers 64 major food crops, which together account for about 80 percent of all plant-based food consumed worldwide.
Insights from practice: data and stories
Beyond statistics, the report highlights stories from plant breeders, researchers and farmers who have shaped the MLS in practice.
“Behind the numbers are real people and real impacts,” added Nnadozie. “These stories show how access to shared crop diversity strengthens livelihoods and helps farmers adapt to climate change.”
Examples include the revival of traditional wheat varieties in Georgia and community seed diversity initiatives in Bolivia, Yemen, Malawi and across the Pacific. Together, they illustrate how access to global crop diversity supports adaptation, innovation and conservation worldwide.
Monitoring trends in availability, use and emerging needs
The publication provides a baseline for monitoring future trends in crop availability, transfers, demand and regional patterns. It consolidates the most up‑to‑date data on plant genetic resources in the MLS, offering a clear picture of the system’s current scope. The analysis also highlights the expansion of digital documentation tools: more than 1.6 million Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) have been assigned through the International Treaty’s Global Information System (GLIS), supporting documentation and data-sharing. It also draws on complementary datasets, including FAO’s World Information and Early Warning System (WIEWS), EURISCO, Genesys and the CGIAR data systems.
A tool for evidence-based decision-making
Prepared at the request of the Governing Body of the International Treaty, the analysis is designed to support evidence-based decision-making and help Contracting Parties strengthen the MLS’s functionality, transparency and long‑term viability. It aligns closely with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and global frameworks such as the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which call for the protection, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
“The international context in which we operate is evolving rapidly, and the MLS has become a cornerstone of global cooperation to ensure that crop diversity remains accessible to all for plant breeding,” said Nnadozie. “As we mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the International Treaty, this analysis provides a timely foundation for advancing resilient, sustainable and equitable food systems in line with global policy commitments.”
The publication is released alongside a dedicated feedback mechanism that will inform future editions and ensure that subsequent analyses respond to the evolving needs of users and policymakers.
Read the publication (available in English): https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cd7793en
Topics
Species
