ITPGRFA: an Appraisal as a Prelude to the Ninth Session of the Governing Body 2022, New Delhi

Abstract

The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture is a comprehensive legally binding agreement adopted during the 31st session of FAO in November 2001 at Rome. The present article is a collation of information related to key area of work of the Treaty, Committees and Working Groups of the Treaty, agenda and action taken by intergovernmental technical committees/expert groups and current scenario and prospects of the Treaty. The Governing Body (GB) is an apex body comprising of all contracting parties. The GB is responsible for policy guidance and all the decisions related to objectives and working of the Treaty. During GB meetings intersessional work of the past two years is reviewed. To date, eight sessions of GB have been convened and important decisions of the meetings are summarized here. The Ninth Session of the GB is scheduled to be held in New Delhi, India in 2022, the provisional Agenda for the Ninth Session is also elaborated in this appraisal.