Approve Multilateral System Treaty for food security, stakeholders urge FG
Stakeholders at a capacity building workshop in Ibadan have tasked the Federal Government on implementation and use of Multilateral System (MLS) of access and benefit-sharing of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), in Nigeria.
Supreme news reports that MLS of Access and Benefit Sharing is a unique global system created by ITPGRFA, that enables countries to exchange much needed plant genetic material with one another.
This allows member countries to share and access a diverse pool of 64 important food and forage crop genetic resources for research, breeding and training for food and agriculture.
This system helps ensure food security and agriculture sustainability worldwide, while also promoting the sharing of the benefits arising from the use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA).
The system. also enables farmers to have access to crop varieties with higher yields and better-quality, leading to increased income and improved livelihood.
In addition, diverse plant genetic resources enable development of improved crop varieties, boosting food security through stable and increased production.
The stakeholders, comprised of researchers, breeders, and academicians, made the call in a communique issued at the end of the capacity training programme orgainised by the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Inovation, Science and Technology on Monday in Ibadan.
Other facilitators of the training include Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), Genebank Accelerator and national and international partners.
In the communique signed by the NACGRAB Director, Dr Anthony Okere and representative of the Alliance Biodiversity, Dr Claudio Chiarolla, the experts while underscoring the importance of the Plant Treaty, maintained that its approval would enhance government’s efforts in boosting food security in Nigeria.
The stakeholders said that the training was to deepen the understanding of the plant treaty multilateral system of access and benefit-sharing.
According to the communique, the participants resolved that a reminder letter be sent to the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, highlighting the risks of delaying the Multilateral System (MLS)’s approval and implementation, which is crucial for food security.
They equally agreed that some stakeholders, led by NACGRAB, should initiate and maintain strong advocacy through physical meetings and social media for follow-up on MLS.
Other recommendations include that NACGRAB should work with the relevant organisations to advocate for special funding outside normal budget by the Federal Government for targeted Genebank optimisation project.
The participants also urged development partners to continuously build the capacity of all stakeholders on the MLS of access and benefit sharing.
They recommended that NACGRAB initiate and strengthen awareness creation among policymakers, research institutes, NGOs, farmers, traditional rulers, and legislators on the importance of the MLS.
It was further resolved at the meeting that NACGRAB develops a strong national strategy on communication to simplify the advantages of MLS to each target group.
They concluded that all stakeholders put in place adequate and periodic monitoring and evaluation focused on the implementation of MLS.
The workshop featured virtual and physical participants from NACGRAB, Alliance Bioversity-CIAT (International Centre for Tropical Agriculture), and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
Participants also included those from International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Universities, Research Institutes, policymakers, and non-governmental organisations.
