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54 SEEDWORLD.COM OCTOBER 2015 UNDER THE AUSPICES of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture ITPGRFA entered into force June 29 2004 with the guid- ance of a governing body that is comprised of representatives from all contracting parties. The treaty sets out to accomplish three things. First it aims to take care of the conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. Second the genetic resources should be used in a sustainable manner. And third access and benefit- sharing should be managed. The treaty also recog- nizes that farmers have contributed to the diversity of crops that feed the world therefore it works to ensure that recipients share benefits they derive from the use of these genetic materials. With increasing population growth climate change impact on agriculture and water scarcity for our crop production we need to safeguard our agro biodiversity and food security by conserving our plant biodiversity in situ on farm and ex situ facilitating climate change adaptation of our food crops increasing agricultural productivity and by ensuring the equitable sharing and exchange of Industry experts look to improve the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agricultures Access and Benefit- sharing mechanism. Julie Deering Treaty Helps to Feed the World our resources information and technologies says Matthew Worrell ITPGRFA chairperson of the Sixth Session of the Governing Body. The treaty has been making rapid progress in addressing these goals by integrating and further developing its operational mechanisms its open initiatives and its govern- ance function throughout the entire value chain derived from plant genetic resources. To date there are 136 contracting parties to the ITPGRFA and 64 crops accounting for 80 percent of all human consumption are exchanged under the treaty. With the treaty in place plant breeders farmers and scientists of contracting parties have access to genetic resources the world over. Resource Boom According to data from CGIAR more than 8500 transfers are made every week adding up to 440000 accessions in one year from international research centers alone. Farmers donors scientists and genebank managers all con- tribute to the success of the treatys multilateral system a system whereby countries that have ratified the treaty agree to make their genetic diversity and related information about the crops stored in their gene banks available. Its important to realize that we are all dependent on each other for genetic resources for food and agriculture says Anke van den Hurk of Plantum. Theres not a single country that has all the genetic resources needed for food production originating in their own country. For example Brazil has a lot of biodiversity but still it derives genetic resources that originated in other countries. Genetics float all over the world and it should remain that way. The international treaty makes it possible