Concerns rise over benefit-sharing gaps, digital sequence data loopholes

As Asian delegates convene in Malaysia for key preparatory talks under the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), civil society organisations from across the region have voiced strong opposition to proposed changes that would expand the scope of the Treaty’s Multilateral System (MLS).

In a joint letter submitted to participating governments, 49 civil society groups called for the rejection of current amendments and demanded comprehensive reform of the Treaty’s mechanisms for equitable benefit sharing.

The groups warned that the current proposal – which seeks to expand the MLS from 64 listed crops to all plant genetic resources – risks further exploitation of global genetic commons in the absence of a robust benefit-sharing framework.

“Communities have shared 6.6 million seed samples with over 25,000 users, yet only five users have contributed monetarily to the benefit-sharing fund,” the letter stated. “Expanding the scope without strengthening enforcement will only deepen inequities.”

Civil society members argued that industries profiting from genetic resources — including food processing, beverage, and fragrance companies — currently face no legal obligation to share benefits unless they sell seeds. This allows breeders to grow and commercialise products derived from MLS resources without any contributions to the fund.