14/06/2024

June 14, 2024. The Secretary of the International Treaty, Kent Nnadozie, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Spain, Luis Planas, and the Executive Director of the International Olive Council (IOC), Jaime Lillo, signed today in Madrid an agreement to place the World Olive Germplasm Bank of Córdoba, under the auspices of the International Treaty.

The signatories underscored the importance of crop diversity as the basis of potential solutions to pests, diseases, water scarcity or adaptation of agriculture to climate change.

The World Olive Germplasm Bank of Córdoba conserves more than 1 200 varieties of olive trees from 29 countries that will contribute to promoting new research and innovation projects. The collection is part of the international network of olive germplasm banks coordinated by IOC.Minister Planas highlighted the importance of plant genetic diversity for the future of agriculture and food security.

"This landmark agreement, which integrates the Olive collections in Cordoba into the Multilateral System of the Plant Treaty, is a significant milestone for world’s agriculture and biodiversity. It underscores the global commitment to preserving the genetic diversity of olive plants and promoting equitable access to these vital resources. Together with IOC, we are ensuring that these valuable resources are conserved and made accessible for the benefit of all, fostering sustainable agriculture and global food security", said Mr Nnadozie.

The Minister highlighted the importance of the plant genetic diversity from the World Olive Germplasm Bank. According to Planas, Spain is responsible for guaranteeing that the olive tree continues being one of the essential crops to guarantee food security and be the backbone of large rural areas and a source of wealth for olive-growing communities.

“Today's signature is the culmination of a process that began years ago to place the genetic resources of the olive tree in the best international framework for the conservation and management of genetic resources for agriculture and food, the International Treaty”, said Mr Lillo.

The inclusion of the World Olive Germplasm Bank in the Treaty's Multilateral System represents an international recognition of the contribution of this resource to the conservation of biodiversity and its value for the olive sector.

The International Treaty is a key instrument that facilitates access to these plant genetic resources and shares in a fair and equitable manner the benefits derived from their use. The Treaty foresees, in its Article 15, that international collections of plant genetic resources can be placed under the auspices of the Treaty. Article 15 of the International Treaty foresee common legal, policy and technical standards for the international collections that signed agreements with FAO. These international collections are considered global flagships of crop diversity conservation by FAO and its Members.

Spain's commitment to the International Treaty has been reiterated in recent years as an example of institutional collaboration with a focus on science and knowledge. The Minister said that the work of the International Treaty benefits and supports many generations of farmers. He said we all need those plant genetic resources to produce our food today and to share a legacy with future generations.