UN food agency ‘very satisfied’ with meeting on plant genetic resources treaty

United Nations food agency officials have welcomed the results of the first meeting of the governing body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, citing broad consensus that safeguarding these resources plays a crucial role in ensuring the food supply of future generations.

Some 350 representatives of 120 countries and the European Union gathered for the five-day meeting in Madrid (12-16 June), which was chaired by Francisco Mombiela, Director-General of Agriculture of Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in a press release.

“FAO is very satisfied with the outcome of the meeting. After years of negotiations, the Contracting Parties have concluded agreements that will now make it possible to implement the Treaty for the benefit of plant genetic resource donors and users alike,” said José Esquinas, Secretary of the Treaty.

The UN agency estimates that some three quarters of the most important crops and forages have become extinct during the past hundred years. One of the main purposes of the Treaty is to conserve the remaining genetic diversity of cultivated plants for future generations.

Mr. Esquinas also emphasised the contribution that the Treaty will make to attaining the UN Millennium Development Goals and to eradicating hunger.

The next meeting of the Treaty’s governing body will be held in Rome, Italy, in the first half of 2007.