International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)
Context:
A group of scientists has warned the Indian government against accepting a "compromise proposal" at the 11th Session of the Governing Body (GB11) of the Treaty held in Lima, Peru.
They allege the deal is one-sided and engineered to favor big agri-businesses and tech corporations at the expense of the Global South.
About the Treaty:
The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture aims to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their use.
The Treaty establishes a global Multilateral System to facilitate access to a specific list of 64 crops and forages that are vital for food security
For example, rice, wheat, and maize.
It allows countries to share genetic material for research, breeding, and training, treating these resources as a shared global pool rather than owning them sovereignly.
Standard Material Transfer Agreement (SMTA):
Access to genetic material under the Multilateral System is governed by a Standard Material Transfer Agreement (SMTA).
This is a mandatory contract between the provider and the recipient of the genetic material.
The SMTA sets the conditions for benefit-sharing.
If a recipient commercializes a product developed using material from the MLS, they may be required to pay a share of the profits into a Benefit-sharing Fund.
Current Controversy:
The new proposal seeks to revise the SMTA to enhance the functioning of the MLS.
Scientists argue that the proposal shelves the critical issue of mandatory payment rates to the next session (GB12) while allowing multinational enterprises to consolidate control over seeds.
They fear it maintains the status quo of unhindered access for the North and minimal financial return for the gene-rich South.