UNITED STATES SIGNS INTERNATIONAL TREATY ON PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES; EASING WORLD HUNGER IS OBJECTIVE

UNITED STATES SIGNS INTERNATIONAL TREATY ON PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES;

EASING WORLD HUNGER IS OBJECTIVE

ROME, 6 November (FAO) -- The United States has added its signature to an International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources which aims to ensure better use of genetic diversity to meet the challenge of eradicating world hunger, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said today.

The United States joins 76 other countries and the European Union, who have signed the Treaty since it was adopted exactly a year ago by the FAO Conference.  Along with Japan, it was one of two countries who had originally abstained from voting on the Treaty, which was approved by 116 nations.

As he added his signature to the Treaty, the United States Ambassador to the FAO, Tony P. Hall, said, "I understand that this signing is a kind of reversal from what we said just about a year ago.  But we have seen the wisdom of the Treaty and are very glad to sign it," he added.

States which have signed the Treaty may now ratify it.  Others may now accede to the Treaty directly, without needing to first sign it.

The Treaty is said to be a unique, comprehensive international agreement, the fruit of almost a quarter of a century of negotiations, which aims to guarantee the future availability of the diversity of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits.

The Treaty also recognises farmers' rights and establishes a multilateral system of access and benefit-sharing for 64 crops and plants that are fundamental to food security.

It will enter into force once ratified or acceded to by 40 countries.  The governing body of the Treaty will then meet, to take important decisions on how the agreement is implemented.  It will consider, for example, the sharing of the benefits arising from the use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, including through capacity-building, the transfer of technology and the payment of an equitable share of the commercial benefits derived from the use of genetic resources.  It will also adopt a standard material transfer agreement for genetic resources from the multilateral system.

"The speed with which countries have signed this agreement, the fruit of

23 years of discussions and formal negotiations, shows that countries have a

mutual interest in preserving their plant genetic resources," said José Esquinas-Alcázar, Secretary of the FAO's Commission on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.  "We are sure that they will also be as quick in ratifying the Treaty," he added.

For more information please contact FAO Media Relations, tel: +39 06 57053625.  For a complete list of countries who signed the Treaty please see the following web page:  http://www.fao.org/Legal/TREATIES/033s-e.htm.  Inquiries may directed to:  FAO Media-Office (Media-Office@fao.org); John Riddle, 0039-06-5705 3259, John.Riddle@FAO.Org; Liliane Kambirigi, 0039-06-5705 3223, Liliane.Kambirigi@FAO.Org and Erwin Northoff, 0039-06-5705 3105; e-mail: Erwin.Northoff@FAO.Org

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