Seed exchanges are necessary for conservation of agricultural biodiversity and for global food and nutrition security. The Multilateral System (MLS) of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) offers the largest global exchange mechanism for plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA). It aims at continuing crop exchanges sustainably, fairly, and equitably.

The MLS provides farmers, plant breeders, and scientists with access to plant genetic resources that are considered vital for food security (Annex I of the Treaty). It also aims to ensure that recipients share the benefits they derive from the use of these genetic resources. However, the limited generation and sharing of monetary benefits resulted in establishment of a Working Group with the task of enhancing the functioning of the MLS.

First established in 2013, the Working Group conducted negotiations for six years, with focus on revising the Standard Material Transfer Agreement (SMTA) used for PGRFA exchanges and benefit-sharing, and on amending the list of crops in Annex I of the Treaty. At its ninth meeting in 2019, the Working Group reached a tentative compromise to amend Annex I to include all PGRFA under the management and control of parties and in the public domain, in ex situ conditions, while allowing for reasoned national exemptions for a limited number of native species. Negotiations on the draft revised SMTA, however, were not concluded, with benefit-sharing from the use of digital sequence information (DSI – a term referring to the digitized information content of PGRFA) and the rates for benefit-sharing payments as the main outstanding issues. The negotiations were terminated at the eighth session of the Treaty’s Governing Body in November 2019, when delegates could not reach agreement on the package of measures to enhance the functioning of the MLS or to continue intersessional work.

At its ninth session in 2022, the Governing Body decided to relaunch negotiations and appointed Sunil Archak (India) and Michael Ryan (Australia) as Working Group Co-Chairs.  At its tenth session in July 2023, the Governing Body endorsed the suggestion of the Working Group to work on the basis of the “June 2019 draft package,” which includes a draft revised SMTA, draft amendment of Annex I, and draft resolution on implementing the enhancement of the MLS. It also requested the Co-Chairs to give early attention to the three identified “hotspots”: DSI/genetic sequence data; expansion of Annex I; and payment structure and rates. Negotiations continued at the 11th and the 12th meetings of the Working Group, with exchange of views on the three identified “hotspots.” Its 13th meeting, which was preceded by intense intersessional work, addressed a Co-Chairs’ proposal on the package of measures.

The Working Group is composed of spokespersons from the regions of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, including Africa, Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Near East, North America, and South West Pacific, as well as from civil society, the seed industry, farmers’ organizations, and research and academia, including the CGIAR Consortium.

The Working Group’s 13th meeting convened from 1-4 April 2025, in Rome, Italy, after two days of regional consultations and preparatory meetings.

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) writers for this meeting were Elsa Tsioumani, Ph.D.; Jennifer Bansard; and Mike Muzurakis. The Digital Editor was Mika Schröder, Ph.D. The Editor was Pam Chasek, Ph.D.