INDIAN FARMERS & EXPERTS ASK GOVERNMENT TO REJECT EXPANSION OF GLOBAL PLANTS TREATY
Background
- There is an international agreement called the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA).
- A big meeting of this treaty will happen in Lima, Peru, in the last week of November 2025.
- Before this meeting, many groups in India — farmers’ organisations, civil society groups, and scientists — have raised strong concerns.
- They wrote letters to the Prime Minister and important ministers.
- Their message is simple: protect India’s rights over its own seeds and plant genetic resources.
WHAT IS THE MAIN ISSUE?
There is a proposal to expand the treaty’s Multilateral System (MLS).
Right now:
- MLS covers only 64 crops.
(Example: rice, wheat, maize etc.)
New proposal:
- Expand MLS to almost all plant genetic resources (PGRFA).
- Only a very small number of crops can be kept out through a “negative list”.
WHY IS THIS A PROBLEM FOR INDIA?
Farmer groups say:
- This expansion will open almost all of India’s seed diversity to foreign seed companies.
- India will lose control over who uses its seeds.
- It goes against Indian laws:
- Biological Diversity Act, 2002
- Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001
These laws protect:
- India’s sovereign rights over genetic resources.
- Farmers’ role as custodians of seeds.
DISAGREEMENT OVER INDIA’S OBLIGATIONS
At a consultation meeting, a senior official, Sunil Archak, made some claims:
- India can choose which seeds to share.
- India is not giving seeds to MLS, only receiving.
- India needs expansion to get access to crops like soybean, tomato, groundnut, oil palm.
FARMERS & SCIENTISTS SAY THIS IS WRONG
They say:
- The treaty is legally binding. Countries cannot keep reservations once they sign.
- Articles 11 and 12 say countries must share all plant resources that fall under the expanded list.
- India has already shared more than 4 lakh seed samples with MLS. These include farmers’ own varieties.
- India already has rich diversity in soybean, tomato, etc.
- India can get any extra material through bilateral agreements, without giving up sovereignty.
Their point:
A small benefit is not worth losing control over India’s entire seed heritage.
TRANSPARENCY & DIGITAL BIO PIRACY ISSUES
Another major concern is lack of transparency in MLS.
Problems raised:
- No proper system to track who is taking seeds, how they use them, or what products they make.
- New rules introduce confidentiality clauses — even less transparency.
- Digital Sequence Information (DSI) is not regulated.
(DSI = genetic data taken from seeds.)
WHY IS THIS DANGEROUS?
- Seed companies can take India’s seeds, create digital data, and use it freely.
- This allows digital biopiracy — using India’s genetic wealth without permission or benefit-sharing.
- Data can go to private databases not accountable to India.
WHAT FARMERS & EXPERTS WANT THE GOVT. TO DO?
They listed clear demands for India’s stand at the Lima meeting (GB-11):
Demands:
- Reject expansion of MLS to include all PGRFA.
- Demand full transparency — list of who accessed India’s seeds must be public.
- Oppose confidentiality clauses in the seed-sharing agreement (SMTA).
- Regulate DSI — allow sharing only on transparent and accountable systems.
- Appoint a skilled negotiator, preferably from the Ministry of External Affairs.
- Restrict Sunil Archak from representing India because of conflict of interest.
- Work with Global South countries to push for better governance and tracking before any expansion.
They will also hold a press briefing on 18 November 2025 to share all these concerns with the public.
KEY QUESTIONS THEY WANT THE GOVT. TO ANSWER
- Will an expanded treaty give international access to all of India’s publicly held seed resources?
- Will India lose oversight over who uses its plant genetic material?
What will happen to farmers’ seed sovereignty?
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