National implementation of the plant treaty’s multilateral system access, benefits-sharing: Matters arising (Part 1)

The world in the twentieth century brought the matter of environment, biodiversity, genetic resources and sustainability of the planet to the fore. This has led to many international policies, agreements and treaties.

Among those treaties are:

1. Rio De Janeiro 92: This is United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). It is also known as Rio summit or Earth summit. It was held from 3rd- 4th June 1992. World leaders agreed on a comprehensive strategy for “sustainable development”- meeting our needs while also ensuring we leave a healthy and viable world for future generations. One of the key agreements adopted at Rio was the convention on Biological Diversity. It is a global programs those committed 118 countries to environmental restoration, preservation and social development. Their aim is to meet the challenges of global warming, pollution, bio-diversity and interrelated social problems of poverty, health and population.
2. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): This is informally known as the Biodiversity Convention. It is a multilateral treaty. Its objective is to develop national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. It is often seen as the key document regarding sustainable development. The three main goals are:

(i) Conservation of biodiversity

(ii) Sustainable use of biodiversity

(iii) fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.

3. Access and Benefits Sharing Agreement (ABSA): This is an agreement that defines the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. ABSA typically arose in relation to Bioprospecting where indigenous knowledge is used to focus screening efforts for commercially valuable genetic and biochemical resources. ABSA’s recognised that bioprospecting frequently relies on indigenous or traditional knowledge and that people or communities who hold such knowledge are entitled to a share of benefits arising from its commercial utilisation.
4. Nagoya Protocol: The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits from their utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity, also known as Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefits Sharing (ABS) is a 2010 supplementary agreement to the 1992 convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Its aim is the implementation of one of the three objectives of the CBD: the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources, thereby contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
5. Kyoto Protocol: It is an international treaty which extends the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC) that commits state parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, based on the premise that:

(a)global warming exists and

(b) human-made CO2 emissions have caused it.

In Kyoto, Japan, on 11th December, 1997 and entered into force on the 16th February 2005. There are currently no less than 192 parties to the protocol.

6. Cartagena Protocol: The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity effective since 2003.The Biosafety Protocol seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by genetically modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology.
7. International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA): ITPGRFA popularly known as the International Seed Treaty, is a comprehensive international agreement in harmony with the convention on Biological Diversity, which aims at guaranteeing 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 benefits sharing arising from its use. It also recognises farmers’ rights, subject to national laws to;

(a) The protection of traditional knowledge relevant to plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

(b)  The right to equitable utilisation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

(c)  The right to participate in making decisions, at the national level, on matters related to the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. The treaty establishes the multilateral system of Access and Benefits-Sharing to facilitate plant germplasm exchanges and benefits-sharing through Standard Material Transfer Agreement (SMTA).

This discourse centers on “International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA).

• Dr. Timothy Oluwafemi Ajiboye is a Biodiversity conservation expert, a Striga management specialist, an Entomologist and Principal Investigator, Integrated Pest Management of Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda).

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