Highlights and images for 23 November 2023

Kent Nnadozie was reappointed as Secretary of the ITPGRFA.

Thursday started on a celebratory note as delegates applauded the extension of appointment of Secretary Kent Nnadozie, with regional groups and observers alike expressing their appreciation for his work and guidance, including through the turbulent times during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Want to dig deeper into today's talks? Read the full Earth Negotiations Bulletin daily report.

Delegates applaud after Kent Nnadozie is reappointed Secretary of the ITPGRFA.

Text-based negotiations ensued, as the meeting engaged in the review and approval of draft resolutions on cooperation with other international instruments and processes, the role of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), the Global Information System (GLIS), and PGRFA conservation and sustainable use.

Delegates from Brazil, Ecuador, and Uruguay holding informal discussions.

Well-known divergences emerged, as delegates strove to find compromise on traditionally divisive topics, including:

cooperation with relevant human rights bodies and instruments, particularly references to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants;
availability of financial resources with regard to various activities to be undertaken by the Treaty Secretariat; and
financial obligations of developed country parties to the Treaty.

Delegates move to the India Room to form an informal group.

Deliberations on digital sequence information (DSI)/genetic sequence data (GSD) highlighted the usefulness of DSI/GSD for germplasm collection management and crop improvement, and drew attention to capacity-building and technology transfer needs. Delegates pointed out the need for interlinkages with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Working Group on DSI, which works on a multilateral mechanism for benefit-sharing from the use of DSI on genetic resources. They also underscored the need to address the potential impact of DSI use on farmers’ rights.

An evening plenary heard a report from the Co-Chairs of the Working Group on enhancing the Multilateral System (MLS) on progress achieved in informal consultations conducted during the week. Delegates then addressed elements for a resolution on enhancing the MLS.

Negotiations continued late into the evening.

Delegates organize themselves for a long fourth day of talks.

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All ENB photos are free to use with attribution. For the 10th Session of the ITPGRFA Governing Body please use: Photo by IISD/ENB | Matthew TenBruggencate