With India signing the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture at Rome today, the global convention on the conservation and sharing of plant germplasm has moved closer to coming into force.
The number of countries that have already signed the treaty has now reached 27. Some more countries are expected to sign it in the next few days during the on-going World Food Summit in Rome. It will become effective after ratification by 40 countries.
The 15 member countries of the European Union, as also the European Community, had signed this treaty last week while Eritrea, Egypt, Jordan and Guinea have already ratified it as well.
On behalf of India, the treaty was signed by agriculture minister Ajit Singh, who is currently in Rome to attend the food summit. This has paved the way for India to formally ratify it. The Union Cabinet had recently given its nod for the signing of the treaty as well as joining the UPOV (international convention on plant variety protection), 1978.
The treaty for the first time covers conservation and sustainable use of the world
