Implementing the multilateral system for development:Highlighting links to the Nagoya Protocol

Implementing the multilateral system for development:
Highlighting links to the Nagoya Protocol
Michael Halewood, Bioversity International,

Table of contents
Details regarding the
Multilateral System of
Access and Benefit Sharing
(MLS)
MLS’s contributions to
national development
Considerations for national
implementation in harmony
with the Nagoya Protocol
Red bananas (Ruhuvia Chichi) in the Solomon Islands.
Bananas are one of the crops listed under Annex 1.

The multilateral system of access and
benefit sharing
Basic approach: in return for putting the genetic resources of 64
crops and forages from your country into a global pool of genetic
resources, you get access to:
• the genetic resources of same crops from all (133) other
member countries for research, plant breeding and training for
food and agriculture.
• the genetic resources or all crops held by international
organizations that sign agreements with the Governing Body of
the ITPGRFA (CGIAR centers).

Countries don’t have to include all the genetic resources of
the 64 crops within their borders; just the following …
• Materials that are under the management and control of
the national government and in the public domain (so not
materials managed and controlled by farmers or
companies … in most countries)
• Additional materials that are voluntarily included by
anyone in the country (subject to whatever other laws
apply, including laws implementing the Nagoya Protocol)
benefit sharing (cont.)

Access is for free or minimum
administrative costs.
Anyone in a member state has the right
to request and receive materials
You can commercialize new crops you
develop that incorporate materials you
accessed, but you have to pay 1.1%
royalty to international benefit sharing
fund
Maize diversity in community seed bank,
Cuchumatanes highlands of Western Guatemala.
benefit sharing (cont.)

Multilateral System
P1
R1
R2
SMTA2
SMTA1
SMTA3
On-farm
conservation
information
exchange &
tech.transfer
sustainable
use
1,1% of net sales
Priorities
Criteria
Operational Procedures
Private
SectorVoluntary
contributions
(eg, NW, IT)
Benefit-sharing fund
Total 22,000,000 USD
3 sets of projects so far
CP
Int’l org Natural and
legal person
Others
OthersMultilateral system of
access & benefit-sharing
priority:
farmers in developing countries
who conserve and sustainably
utilize PGRFA
2,263,197 samples
under
27,334 SMTAs

Region of recipients, January
2007 – July 2015
SMTA Samples
Africa 18% 20.1%
Asia 39% 37.2%
Europe 11% 10.5%
Latin America and the
Caribbean
19% 14.8%
Near East 9% 11.1%
North America 4% 4.8%
Southwest Pacific <1% 1.5%

Contributions to development, food security
Facilitated access is the biggest benefit
By far the largest group of accessors and users of genetic resources
available through the MLS are national public research organizations,
genebanks, universities. Very little to private sector.
Typically used as part of crop improvement and development projects
National programs may typically:
• select best performing lines from diverse populations & release
them
• cross with locally adapted materials and then release them
Multiply and disseminate as appropriate under circumstances: for free,
under license with seed companies, through collaborative projects with
NGOs, etc

(cont)
Farmers organizations, NGOs, may
also receive materials and
incorporate them in research and
development programs.
Important to be able to access
diversity from within the genepool of
the crop to be able to identify usetul
traits. Often involves screening and
evaluation of large numbers to
desired trait
These genetic resources and the
released varieties are the backbone
of food security.
Bar-coded samples in the CIP genebank. Credit: Cecilia
Ynouye/CIP

(cont)
MLS designed to support unprecedented levels of genetic resources
exchanges in support of food security and development, and to set the
stage for the entry of a wide range of new players in the field, both as
providers and users of crop genetic diversity.
However, the MLS is not self-implementing. Many potential users of the
system will need assistance to be able to take advantage of it – civil
society organizations, farmers organizations. But also national public
researchers and breeders, and small to medium size companies.

(cont)
Other non-monetary benefits:
Partnerships, networking, training, information exchange, capacity
building, technology transfer, development and participation of regional
and crop specific PGR conservation and use strategies
Promotes and recognizes farmers and farming communities as
stewards of biological diversity.
Encourages states to put systems in place to share benefits
associated with use of farmers’ materials, to protect traditional
knowledge, and to participate in national decision-making.
Monetary benefit sharing:
through the International Benefit-sharing fund: 22 million USD to date

Implementation issues
Countries need to:
• put systems in place in the countries
concerned to make materials
available using the SMTA, as
anticipated in the Treaty
o ‘take the necessary legal or other appropriate
measures to provide [facilitated] access to
other contracting parties, including natural
and legal persons within their jurisdictions’
• put systems in place and capacity
building to help nationals take
advantage of the MLS
BioversityInternationalS.PadulosiBioversityInternationalA.Vezina

Implementation issues (cont.)
1. Ensure legal space to operate MLS
2. Confirm what PGRFA are automatically in the MLS
3. Take measures to encourage voluntary inclusions of
additional genetic resources in MLS
4. Establish rules for in situ genetic resources
5. Decide processes for applications and decision-making
Rice varieties, India. Bioversity
International/ A. Gupta

Implementation issues (cont.)
6. Develop mechanisms for consultations with CBD/NP
authorities for hard cases
7. Build capacity of national users, institutionalize technical
supports, build links to supportive international
infrastructure, partners, support
8. Decide who is ultimately responsible to promote MLS
implementation?
9. Decide if want to implement the MLS on its own, or
together with the Nagoya Protocol

20/20 hindsight
Historical divide between agriculture and environmental
sectors, from practitioners to international donors and
international conventions
Lack of coordination, resistance, competition between them
Taken a long time to overcome, and to start to see the
advantages of cooperation
This meeting, these partnerships, the overarching vision are,
surprisingly, new. Starting to seem obvious, with the benefit of
hindsight. Stepping into a brave new world..

Mutual supportiveness for development!
Farmer in her homegarden, Bihar, India. Credit:
Bioversity Intenational/C.Zanzanaini

Thank you
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@BioversityInt

Implementing the multilateral system for development:Highlighting links to the Nagoya Protocol

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