The Governing Body of the International Treaty and the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture have actively cooperated since 2006, and both bodies have repeatedly emphasized the need to maintain close collaboration.

The Commission and the International Treaty have regularly fostered cooperation with regard to information systems, in particular the International Treaty's Global Information System (GLIS) and FAO's World Information and Early Warning System on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (WIEWS). They have also underscored the importance of working together on cross-sectoral matters such as access and benefit-sharing, United Nations policies, targets and indicators related to biodiversity for food and agriculture, and emerging issues such as Digital Sequence Information.  

The International Treaty was negotiated through the Commission, which on the adoption of the International Treaty acted as its Interim Committee until the First Session of the Governing Body (2006). The International Treaty was the outcome of the review of the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources, following Resolution 7/93 of the FAO Conference, which requested the Commission to adapt the International Undertaking, in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity, and to consider the issue of access on mutually agreed terms to plant genetic resources, and the issue of the realization of Farmers' Rights.

Article 14 of the International Treaty recognizes that the rolling Global Plan of Action is important to the Treaty, and that "Contracting Parties should promote its effective implementation, including through national actions and, as appropriate, international cooperation to provide a coherent framework, inter alia, for capacity-building, technology transfer and exchange of information", taking into account the provisions of the Multilateral System of the International Treaty. The Commission monitors and facilitates implementation of the Second Global Plan of Action on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Through monitoring of the Funding Strategy of the International Treaty, the Governing Body is able to oversee resources available for implementation of the Second Global Plan of Action.

At the same time, Article 17.3 of the International Treaty provides that "Contracting Parties shall cooperate with the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture of the FAO in its periodic reassessment of the state of the world's plant genetic resources for food and agriculture in order to facilitate the updating of the rolling Global Plan of Action referred to in Article 14." Article 15.1d of the International Treaty refers to the "Genebank Standards endorsed by the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture."

Since its establishment in 1983, the Commission has helped to coordinate and guide a series of critical international initiatives aimed at raising awareness of the erosion of plant genetic resources. It has spearheaded concerted policy-level efforts to promote conservation and sustainable use. For an introduction to the Commission's work on plant genetic resources, please visit the Commission's webpage.

The Seeds and Plant Genetic Resources team of FAO's Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP) assists Member Countries in developing effective policies and capacities for an integrated approach to conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, including seed systems, for increasing crop production and achieving food security. To learn more about its work, please visit the NSP webpage.

The Commission and the International Treaty contribute in different but mutually supportive ways to ensuring the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources.