The Treaty
- International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA / Plant Treaty) – under FAO (2004).
- Objective: Facilitates exchange of seeds/genetic resources for food security and ensures equitable benefit-sharing.
- Current system: Multilateral System (MLS) covering 64 crops (rice, wheat, maize etc.), accessible to researchers, companies, and institutions.
- Benefit-sharing mechanism: Expected when commercial crops are developed from shared resources.
Relevance
- GS 2(International Relations): International treaties, governance of commons, India’s role in global negotiations, rights of farmers/peasants.
- GS 3(Environment and Ecology): Biodiversity, food security, climate resilience, biotechnology, IPR issues.
Key Proposals Under Negotiation (2025 Reforms)
- Expansion of MLS: From 64 crops → all plant genetic resources (including wild, uncultivated, non-edible plants).
- Dual-access system:
- Subscription model: Fixed fee for broad access.
- Single-access model: Pay only when commercialising.
- Digital Sequence Information (DSI): Allows use of genetic data online without physical seeds → risk of digital biopiracy.
Concerns Raised by Farmers & Civil Society
- Seed Sovereignty at Risk: Expansion without strong safeguards → unrestricted corporate access to India’s seed diversity.
- Weak Benefit Sharing: Millions of seed samples shared, but little/no benefit returned to source countries or farmers.
- Biopiracy: Companies patenting varieties developed from traditional seeds, selling them back to farmers.
- Digital Loophole: Genetic data (DSI) exploited without benefit-sharing.
- Exclusion of Farmers: Treaty reforms shaped by corporate lobbying, with limited farmer consultation.
- Contradiction with National/International Laws: Risks undermining India’s Biodiversity Act (2002), PPV&FR Act (2001), CBD, Nagoya Protocol, and UN Declaration on Rights of Peasants.
India-Specific Implications
- India is mega-biodiverse → vast genetic resources at stake.
- Farmers’ Rights (under Article 9 of Treaty & PPV&FR Act): to save, use, exchange, sell seeds. Could be eroded.
- Seed Sovereignty: Expansion could transfer control of India’s gene banks to multinational corporations.
- Public Health Risk: Seeds used for pharma/biotech → medicines developed and sold back at high costs.
- Strategic Position: India co-chairs current negotiations → outcome directly affects domestic sovereignty.
Broader Global Dimensions
- North-South Divide: Developing countries (Asia, Africa, Latin America) fear loss of genetic sovereignty; developed countries & corporations push for open access.
- Food Security Challenge: Monocropping & corporate dominance vs. resilience of indigenous seed systems.
- Climate Change Angle: Traditional landraces crucial for adaptation and nutritional security.
Way Forward
- Strengthen Benefit Sharing: Mandatory upfront payments, fair royalty models, and data governance for DSI.
- Transparency: Public disclosure of who accesses seeds and how they are used.
- Recognition of Farmers’ Rights: Stronger safeguards in line with Article 9 of Plant Treaty.
- National Sovereignty: Ensure treaty reforms align with India’s Biodiversity Act and PPV&FR Act.
- Inclusive Process: Consult farmers, seed savers, and state governments before adopting reforms.
