Scientists Urge Fairer Benefit-Sharing in International Plant Genetic Resources Treaty
Scientists are warning against a "one-sided" deal at the plant treaty meeting, advocating for equitable benefit-sharing from genetic resources.
Photo by Devi Puspita Amartha Yahya
At a crucial meeting of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), scientists and civil society groups are raising alarms about a potentially "one-sided" deal. The core issue is benefit-sharing: how the profits and benefits derived from plant genetic resources (like new crop varieties developed from traditional seeds) are shared with the farmers and communities who originally conserved and developed them.
Developing countries, rich in biodiversity, argue that the current system disproportionately benefits corporations in developed nations. They are pushing for a more equitable system, emphasizing that access to these genetic resources must come with fair compensation and benefit-sharing, which is vital for food security and sustainable agriculture globally.
Key Facts
Scientists and civil society groups warned against a 'one-sided' deal at the ITPGRFA meeting
Concern over benefit-sharing from plant genetic resources
Developing countries (Group of 77 and China) advocate for mandatory benefit-sharing
Current system allows free access to genetic resources but benefit-sharing is voluntary
Proposal for a new package of measures to enhance the functioning of the Multilateral System (MLS)
UPSC Exam Angles
International environmental agreements and their implementation.
Biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in agriculture and traditional knowledge.
Food security and agricultural sustainability.
India's domestic laws (e.g., PPV&FR Act, Biological Diversity Act) in relation to international treaties.
North-South divide in environmental governance and resource sharing.
Visual Insights
Global Stakeholders in Plant Genetic Resources & Benefit-Sharing
This map illustrates the geographical divide in the ITPGRFA benefit-sharing debate. It highlights biodiversity-rich developing nations (providers of genetic resources) and developed nations (often home to corporations utilizing these resources), showcasing the core tension in achieving equitable benefit-sharing.
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More Information
Background
The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), also known as the Seed Treaty, was adopted in 2001 and entered into force in 2004. It is a legally binding international agreement that aims to ensure food security through the conservation, exchange, and sustainable use of the world's plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA), as well as the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use.
It operates under the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) but specifically addresses agricultural biodiversity. A key component is its Multilateral System of Access and Benefit-Sharing, which covers a list of 64 crops and forages crucial for food security.
Latest Developments
At recent meetings, scientists and civil society groups are highlighting a critical imbalance in the ITPGRFA's benefit-sharing mechanism. Developing countries, which are often the originators and custodians of vast plant genetic diversity and associated traditional knowledge, argue that the current system disproportionately favors corporations in developed nations.
They contend that the benefits derived from these resources (e.g., through new crop varieties, pharmaceuticals) are not adequately shared with the original custodians. This 'one-sided' deal undermines the treaty's objectives of equity, food security, and sustainable agriculture, pushing for a more robust and equitable benefit-sharing framework.
Practice Questions (MCQs)
1. Consider the following statements regarding the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA): 1. It is a legally binding instrument that aims to ensure food security through the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources. 2. Its Multilateral System of Access and Benefit-Sharing covers all plant genetic resources for food and agriculture globally. 3. The treaty explicitly recognizes the sovereign rights of states over their plant genetic resources. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 only
- B.1 and 2 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: C
Statement 1 is correct. The ITPGRFA is a legally binding treaty focused on food security and sustainable use of PGRFA. Statement 2 is incorrect. The Multilateral System covers a specific list of 64 crops and forages, not all plant genetic resources globally. Bilateral access and benefit-sharing apply to resources outside this list. Statement 3 is correct. The treaty acknowledges the sovereign rights of nations over their genetic resources, consistent with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
2. With reference to international agreements concerning genetic resources, consider the following statements: 1. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopts a bilateral approach to access and benefit-sharing, while the ITPGRFA primarily uses a multilateral system for specific crops. 2. The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization applies to all genetic resources, including human genetic resources. 3. Farmers' Rights, as recognized under the ITPGRFA, include the right to save, use, exchange, and sell farm-saved seed/propagating material of protected varieties, subject to certain conditions. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.1 and 3 only
- C.2 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: B
Statement 1 is correct. CBD generally promotes a bilateral approach where access to genetic resources is subject to prior informed consent and mutually agreed terms. ITPGRFA, for its specified list of crops, uses a multilateral system. Statement 2 is incorrect. The Nagoya Protocol applies to genetic resources covered by the CBD, but explicitly excludes human genetic resources. Statement 3 is correct. Farmers' Rights under ITPGRFA are crucial and include the right to save, use, exchange, and sell farm-saved seed or propagating material, provided it is not for commercial marketing of a protected variety.
3. Which of the following statements best describes the primary concern raised by developing countries regarding benefit-sharing in the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)?
- A.The treaty mandates the transfer of advanced agricultural technologies from developed to developing nations without adequate compensation.
- B.The benefits derived from plant genetic resources originating in developing countries disproportionately accrue to corporations in developed nations.
- C.Developing countries lack the scientific expertise to effectively utilize the genetic resources available through the treaty's multilateral system.
- D.The treaty imposes strict restrictions on the export of plant genetic resources from developing countries, hindering their economic growth.
Show Answer
Answer: B
Option B directly reflects the core issue highlighted in the news summary. Developing countries, rich in biodiversity, argue that the profits and benefits from new crop varieties developed using their traditional seeds and genetic resources primarily benefit corporations in developed nations, leading to an inequitable distribution. Options A, C, and D are not the primary concerns raised in the context of the 'one-sided deal' on benefit-sharing.
4. In India, the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights (PPV&FR) Act, 2001, was enacted to implement certain provisions of the ITPGRFA. Consider the following statements regarding this Act: 1. It provides for the protection of plant breeders' rights for new varieties, similar to patent protection. 2. It explicitly recognizes and protects the rights of farmers, including their traditional knowledge and contribution to genetic diversity. 3. Farmers are allowed to save, use, sow, re-sow, exchange, share, or sell their farm produce, including seed of a protected variety, provided they do not sell it as branded seed. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Answer: D
All three statements are correct. The PPV&FR Act is unique in its dual objective: protecting the intellectual property rights of plant breeders (Statement 1) and simultaneously safeguarding the rights of farmers, including their traditional knowledge and the right to save and exchange seeds (Statements 2 and 3). This Act is often cited as a progressive model for balancing breeders' rights with farmers' rights, aligning with the spirit of the ITPGRFA.
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