b'BREEDING UNDER THE TREATYON THE LINE: THE FUTURE OF THE MULTILATERAL SYSTEMLIMA COULD RESHAPE HOW BREEDERS USE GLOBAL CROP DIVERSITY.BY: THOMAS NICKSONWHY LIMA MATTERS under the CBDs bilateral approach, breeders Later this year, the Governing Body of theoften face lengthy negotiations with individ-International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resourcesual governments, each with different rules and for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) willexpectations. This slows down innovation and gather in Lima, Peru. One of the key items onhas discouraged exchange altogether.the agenda is whether countries can agree onThe MLS was supposed to fix that by pro-measures to improve the Treatys Multilateralviding a simple, consistent framework. For public System (MLS) of access and benefit-sharing. breeders, it has been an important tool. But for For commercial plant breeders and seedcommercial breeders, uncertainty about payment companies, this discussion is more than legalobligations, rates, and long-term commitments theory. A workable, predictable MLS could makehas been a deterrent.valuable plant genetic resources accessible for useThat matters because commercial seed com-in breeding programs under improved terms panies are among the few actors with the scale Thomas Nickson is anwhile also creating a fair system of benefit-shar- and resources to invest in turning raw germplasm independent consultant ining. If progress is made in Lima, it could unlockinto products that farmers use. Without their par-International Agriculturalnew opportunities for the global seed sector andticipation, these resources will be underutilized.& Environmental Policy Research the conservation of plant genetic resources.THE ENHANCEMENT PROCESSA TREATY DESIGNED FOR SHARING Recognizing these challenges, Treaty members The Treaty, adopted in 2001 and in force sincelaunched an enhancement process in 2013. The 2004, was created to ensure that plant geneticgoal: make the MLS more attractive to users, resourcesvital for breeding and global foodincrease predictable benefit-sharing payments, securitycould be conserved, shared, and usedand expand the crops covered.sustainably. Its Multilateral System was meantThe seed industry, represented mainly to simplify access to crop diversity by replacingthrough the International Seed Federation the complex, country-by-country negotiations(ISF), has been an active participant from the required under the Convention on Biologicalstart. Commercial breeders have provided data, Diversity (CBD). perspectives, and proposals aimed at making the At its heart is the Standard Materialsystem workable in practicenot just on paper.Transfer Agreement (SMTA), a legal con- Some key points the industry has raised:tract that governs how breeders, farmers, and Multiple payment options are needed.researchers access materials in the system. InA one-size-fits-all approach wont work. theory, its a straightforward way to exchangeCompanies have different crops, business germplasm: sign the SMTA, use the material,models, and levels of interest in MLS and if it leads to a commercial product that ismaterial. A mix of optionssuch as restricted (for example, patented), the user makessingle-access payments and subscription payments into the Treatys Benefit-sharing Fund. modelswill bring more users into the In practice, the system hasnt deliveredsystem.as expected. Since 2007, more than 100,000 Payment obligations should be clear andSMTAs have been signed, but most have beentime limited. Many companies hesitate by public institutions. Payments from commer- because they fear perpetual obligations cial use have been limited. Many companies findevery time MLS material is used, even if the obligations under the SMTA unclear or tooit represents only a small portion of a final open-ended, so they turn instead to other sourcesproduct.of germplasm. Rates must reflect reality. Set them too high, and companies will simply avoid the WHY THE MLS MATTERS MLS. Set them too low, and the Fund FOR BREEDERS wont generate meaningful income. The Access to diverse genetic resources is essentialsweet spot is modest rates that encourage for breeding resilient, productive varieties. Yetwidespread participation.8ISEED WORLD EUROPEISEEDWORLD.COM/EUROPE | NOVEMBER 2025'