25 September 2013: The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGR) has received a first batch of 216 protected commercial plant varieties from the German Plant Breeders Association.

The varieties will be available through the ITPGR’s Multilateral System for Access and Benefit-sharing (MLS) for further breeding and development. This marks the first instance that protected commercial varieties developed by the private sector have been made available to the MLS.

The varieties were symbolically delivered to the ITPGR Secretary at a side event held on the margins of the Fifth Session of the ITPGR Governing Body, which is taking place from 24-28 September 2013, in Muscat, Oman, as part of the ‘varieties for diversity initiative’ of the German Plant Breeders Association and the German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection.

Once placed in the MLS, the varieties can be accessed for further breeding and development under the ITPGR’s Standard Material Transfer Agreement, which stipulates the conditions for the use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) under the MLS and the sharing of benefits arising out of such use. [IISD RS Coverage of the Fifth Session of the ITPGR Governing Body] [IISD RS Sources]