6th Session of the Governing Body (GB 6) of the International Treaty
on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)

Delegates to the sixth session of the Governing Body (GB 6) of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (the Treaty or ITPGRFA) met in plenary throughout the day, to hear opening and regional statements, consider reports and organizational issues, and discuss the Multilateral System (MLS) and the Funding Strategy. A lunchtime event presented the proposed vision of the Global Information System. 

Plenary met throughout the day and addressed: the Global Information System; the work programme on sustainable use; farmers’ rights; compliance; and cooperation with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Global Crop Diversity Trust. Contact groups on the Global Information System and on enhancing the Multilateral System met in the evening.

A morning plenary considered: cooperation with the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA), the CBD and other organizations; issues related to the autonomy of the Treaty within the FAO framework; and the draft multi-year programme of work (MYPOW). A contact group on cooperation with the Global Crop Diversity Trust (Trust) met at lunchtime and in the evening. The contact group on enhancing the Multilateral System (MLS) and on the Funding Strategy met in the afternoon and evening. The contact group on farmers’ rights and sustainable use met in the afternoon. An evening plenary addressed compliance, cooperation with other bodies and organizations, and issues related to the autonomy of the Treaty. The budget committee met in the evening.

Plenary convened in morning, afternoon and evening sessions, to consider revised draft resolutions on the Global Crop Diversity Trust, measures to enhance the Multilateral System (MLS), the Funding Strategy, and the multi-year programme of work (MYPOW), and address administrative matters. Two contact groups addressed the Funding Strategy, and farmers’ rights and sustainable use. The budget committee, and a Friends of the Chair group on the MYPOW also met.

On Friday afternoon, plenary convened to adopt the report of the meeting and pending resolutions, including on sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA), farmers’ rights, the Funding Strategy and the Global Information System on PGRFA.

Plenary addressed the work programme and budget as discussed in the budget committee, and adopted it without discussion.

Delegates adopted a resolution on the Secretary of the Treaty, which provides for: extending the appointment of the current Secretary until GB 7 in 2017; requesting the FAO Secretariat to prepare a procedure for renewal of the appointment of the Secretary and a proposal on possible adjustments to the appointment procedure, examining also the matter of maximum term limits for the Secretary, for GB 7 consideration; and including the item in the GB 7 agenda.

Delegates gave standing ovations to bid farewell to Elizabeth Matos (Angola) and Modesto Fernández (Cuba), long-standing ITPGRFA delegates, to recognize their achievements as delegates, Bureau members and meeting Chairs. Matos expressed disappointment about the slow pace of farmers’ rights implementation and lack of attention to benefit-sharing. Fernández encouraged delegates to enhance the Treaty to prove that PGRFA can be conserved for future generations.

Italy announced a contribution of ­€1.084 million to the Benefit-sharing Fund, the Treaty’s core operations and implementation of the work programme on sustainable use.

Chair Worrell gavelled the meeting to a close at 7:51 pm.