The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has ratified the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. This step will provide Ukraine with access to global plant genetic resources and participation in the international benefit-sharing system, including a streamlined mechanism for exchanging genetic resources between gene banks worldwide.
Globally, there are around 64 key agricultural crops (including wheat, rice, maize, barley, potato, and soybean) that provide approximately 80% of plant-based food and calories. The international system focuses on these crops, as access to their genetic resources is critically important for food security.
Ukraine will also be able to participate in benefit-sharing from the commercialization of genetic resources through the relevant Fund.
The need to join the treaty is partly driven by the consequences of Russia’s armed aggression, which resulted in the loss of some genetic resources and the destruction of their storage infrastructure.
“Russia’s military aggression destroyed part of our genetic collections. Joining the International Treaty will give Ukraine access to the global system of plant genetic resources — this is critically important for breeding and restoring the agricultural sector. It will allow the creation of new varieties resistant to climate change and diseases. In the context of war and the loss of some genetic resources, this decision is an important step toward strengthening food security and the long-term resilience of the agricultural sector,” said Taras Vysotsky, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine.
The implementation of the treaty will also contribute to the preservation of biodiversity and expand the genetic base of agricultural crops in Ukraine.
