ATC231020: Report Of The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development on the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources For Food And Agriculture (ITPGRFA), Dated 20 October 2023.

Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development

Report Of The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development on the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources For Food And Agriculture (ITPGRFA), Dated 20 October 2023.

1. Background

The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) was tabled in Parliament in terms of Section 231(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (Act No. 108 of 1996) on 24 February 2023 (see ATC, 24 February 2023) and was referred to the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development on 28 February 2023 (see ATC, 28 February 2023)  for consideration and report.

The objectives of the Treaty, which was first adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in November 2001, are:

• conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture;

• fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of their use, in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity, for sustainable agriculture and food security;

• recognise Farmers’ Rights through the contribution that the local and indigenous communities and farmers have made and will continue to make for the conservation and development of plant genetic resources, which constitute the basis of food and agriculture; and

• recognise Farmers’ Rights to participate in making decisions, at the national level, on matters related to the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture; including the rights of farmers to save, use, exchange and sell farm-saved seed.

These objectives will be attained by closely linking the Treaty, through the FAO, to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, to which South Africa is already a signatory.

2. Committee process and recommendation

The Portfolio Committee received a briefing on the Treaty from the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development on Tuesday, 17 October 2023.

Having considered and deliberated on the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, on Tuesday, 17 and Friday, 20 October 2023, the Portfolio Committee recommends that Parliament approves the accession to the said International Treaty.

Report to be considered.