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| Opening of the Call for Proposals 2010: Benefit-sharing Fund |
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The Call for Proposals 2010 under the Benefit-sharing Fund of the International Treaty, which will invest more than USD 10 million in projects globally, is now opened for its biennial cycle (2010-2011). Any governmental or non-governmental organization, including genebanks and research institutions, farmers and farmers' organizations and regional and international organizations, based in countries that are Contracting Parties eligible for funding, may apply for grants until 8 September 2010, 24:00 Rome time.
The thematic focus is helping ensure sustainable food security by assisting farmers to adapt to climate change through a targeted set of high impact activities on the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. This focus is achieved within the agreed priorities of the Benefit-sharing Fund.  read more
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| International Day for Biological diversity, Saturday May 22nd |
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| [Click on photos to enlarge] |
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| Marking the International Day for Biological diversity Dr. Bhatti, Secretary of the Treaty participated in a ‘Call for Action’ hosted by Bioversity International. Dr. Bhatti was joined by representatives from IFAD, FAO, Bioversity, WFP and others. The meeting called on governments to do more to preserve and use global biodiversity.
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Settimana della Biodiversità - Week of Biodiversity
20 to 23 May 2010, Rome, Auditorium Parco della Musica
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| On the occasion of the 2010 United Nations International Year of Biodiversity, the International Treaty is co-sponsoring a weeklong celebration of biodiversity in music, video, poetry, drama and art. World-renowned scientists, humanists, philosophers, gardeners and chefs will ensure that the festival has wide appeal and an international spotlight. |
The Secretary of the International Treaty, Dr. Shakeel Bhatti, will play an active role in the following events:
- 22 May 6:00 PM - Roundtable "Biodiversity: A Call for Action"
- 23 May 5:00 PM - Roundtable "Adjusting to Climate Change"
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Download the complete program of events:
italian version
english version |
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The Importance of the International Treaty
The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture is crucial in the fight against hunger and poverty and essential for the achievement of Millennium Development Goals 1 and 7. No country is self-sufficient in plant genetic resources; all depend on genetic diversity in crops from other countries and regions. International cooperation and open exchange of genetic resources are therefore essential for food security. The fair sharing of benefits araising from the use of these resources has for the first time been practically implemented at the international level through the Treaty and its Standard Material Transfer Agreement.
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The Portal of the International Treaty aims at improving access to information, knowledge and training materials. It is a gateway to sound information on the Treaty, its Governing Body and its activities, that provides access to essential documents and information resources.
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From the Secretary
 Illustrating Generations of Generosity
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Crops that produce our food
With this Treaty, crops that produce our food - our breads, our curries, our tortillas, our couscous, and our pasta - are put into a common pool. The treaty facilitates access to those crops, makes them available free of charge for certain uses to researchers who agree to share any future commercial benefits from their use in modern plant breeding or biotechnology.
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Every Gene Counts
Traditionally, as plants evolved naturally in their fields, farmers made seasonal selections of which seeds to save and plant the next year, based on what worked best in their local environments. In the early nineteenth century, scientific advancement brought the ability to crossbreed more predictably. Today, modern biotechnology goes even further by providing plant breeders avenues to bring useful genes not only from other varieties but from other species into the mix. This means every crop variety has a potential use that extends far beyond a local farmer's field.
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Crops Covered in Annex I
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