Written by Dani Satyawan The International Treaty has been in force for approximately five years and has facilitated the exchange of a high number of accessions of seeds of major food crops every year. However, this exchange is part of a wider set of obligations including, inter-alia, non-monetary sharing of benefits (article 13). The latter is supposed to include information, access to and transfer of technology, and capacity building. Those benefits must be shared in a fair and equitable way with particular attention to the needs of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. Until now the obligations on non-monetary benefit sharing according to article 13 of the ITPGRFA seem unimplemented or followed up as expected. The success of the IT depends on a balanced enforcement of all its components and particular initiatives for the filling of gaps are viewed as urgently needed. This consultation has addressed this state and the needs regarding article 13 – Non-monetary benefit sharing – and worked out proposals for action. The intention of the consultation is to provide an informal arena for discussions on the implementation of Non-monetary Benefit Sharing in relation to the treaty. The following are the summary of the recommendations formulated from the discussions in the informal consultation: In order to sustain food security worldwide and help adapting to climate change, plant breeding work must be maintained to play a central role. Realizing that most people’s food security depends on locally produced food and that adaptation is local, plant breeding must be decentralized and when appropriate, be devolved to the level of local communities. The meeting discussed the shortcomings of the current systems, identified priorities and pointed to strategic opportunities to meet the identified gaps. Gaps 1. Sufficient and appropriate germplasm is not adequately available for all stakeholders 2. Insufficient capacity to manage germplasms 3. Inadequate access to information and technology Priorities: 1. Strengthening access to appropriate plant genetic resources 2. Improving access to information about materials with relevant characters 3. Strengthen plant breeding capacity at all levels 4. promoting cooperation between stakeholders to use genetic resources more effectively Strategies: 1. Strengthen decentralized plant breeding capacity for adaptation to local growing conditions and the demand in local markets, including appropriate involvement of farmers. 2. increase support for treaty Focal Points in contracting parties – through FAO and other bodies at country and regional level; 3. Organize an intersessional ad hoc, working group, including CPs, representatives of international small-scale farmers organizations, NGOs, and others on an equal footing, that will define a framework for the implementation of on-farm / in situ conservation and sustainable use and development of PGRFA.

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