Grains board backs genetic treaty signing

The head of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), Dr John Lovett, has supported this week's signing by the Australian government of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

"It's really formalising something that has been in place for a long time," Lovett said. "It respects the rights of those who want to import genetic resources and those that own them. It is mutually beneficial."

The treaty was signed by Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Warren Truss at the Food and Agriculture Organisation's World Food Summit held in Rome on June 10.

A total of 56 countries have signed the treaty, including the 15 nations of the European Union and Canada, but the USA and Japan have refused to sign. The treaty must be ratified by 40 countries before it can be enforced.

"When it comes into force, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture will establish a framework to conserve and sustainably use plant resources, such as seeds and other propagating material," Truss said in a statement.

"And, just as importantly, the treaty will help ensure the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of this material."

Under the terms of the treaty, all seed varieties from 64 basic crops including wheat, maize, potato, rice, beans, apple, banana and citrus fruits and pasture grasses will be deposited in a global network of seed banks.

Other countries will be able to use the seeds free of charge for research and experimental plant breeding, but not for chemical or pharmaceutical research.

Royalties from the commercial sale of the seeds or crops will be paid into a UN trust fund, although some varieties will be made available on an unrestricted basis. An agency to be established by the UN will manage the royalties and distribute them in a manner yet to be decided.

Lovett pointed out that Australia had a long history of importing germplasm, as all of our food crops were derived from non-native species. He said 90 per cent of Australia's wheat was derived from varieties developed in Mexico.

He said access to the more primitive strains used in developing countries could provide a valuable source of genetic information, including genes for stress tolerance and drought resistance.

The treaty does not cover the genetic resources contained within Australia's unique native flora.