The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (the Treaty) was adopted by the FAO Conference in November 2001 and entered into force on 29 June 2004, ninety days after its ratification by 40 countries. As of November 2008, 120 countries and the European Community are Contracting Parties to the Treaty.

The First Meeting of the Governing Body of the Treaty was held in Spain in June 2006.

The Second Meeting was held in Rome, Italy, in October 2007.

The Third Meeting of the Governing Body was held in Tunisia, 1-5 June 2009.

The Fourth Meeting of the Governing Body was held in Bali, Indonesia, 14-18 March 2011.

To find out more about CGIAR Statements at these meetings, click here.

To know more about the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, see:

• Importance of the Treaty
• What the Treaty achieves
• Agreements between the Centres and the Governing Body of the Treaty

Article 6 of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (the Treaty) relates to the sustainable use of plant genetic resources. Parties to the Treaty commit to develop and maintain appropriate policy and legal measures that promote the sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. Sub-article 6.2 (a)-(g). includes a non exhaustive list of possible measures for the sustainable use of plant genetic resources.

On October 16, 2006, the eleven CGIAR Centres holding ex situ collections of plant genetic resources signed agreements with the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources placing the collections they hold under the Treaty. Consequently, the genetic resources they hold that are on the list of crops and forages (Annex 1) under the Multilateral System will be distributed using the Treaty’s Standard Material Transfer Agreement (SMTA).