October 31, 2007 marked the day that the fate of the lives of farmers in terms of their rights to plant genetic resources for food and agriculture were to be deliberated by the international community. The crux of the contentions focused on the relevance of the Governing Body in providing guidance to the Contracting Parties as to the implementation of Article 9 within their national jurisdictions. The G77 and China group were steadfast in asserting the need for the Governing Body to discuss Farmers' Rights, in view of its critical role in fulfilling the objectives of the International Treaty on conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture today and for the future, and proposed the adoption of a draft Resolution on Farmers' Rights, stating as follows:
THE GOVERNING BODY,
RECALLING the recognition in the International Treaty of the enormous contribution that farmers of all regions of the world have made, and will continue to make, for the conservation and development of plant genetic resources as the basis of food and agriculture production throughout the world,
AWARE that Farmers' Rights, as covered in Article 9 of the International Treaty, are about enabling farmers to continue this work and about recognizing and rewarding them for their contribution to the global genetic pool, especially in the light of the challenges presented by climate change,
ACKNOWLEDGING that there is great uncertainty and constraints in many countries as to how Farmers' Rights can be implemented and that the challenges related to the realization of Farmers' Rights are likely to vary from country to country,
RECOGNIZING that exchange of experiences, as well as guidance and assistance from the Governing Body, are required to make progress in the implementation of the provisions on Farmers' Rights in the International Treaty,
THEREFORE REQUESTS the Secretary to compile views and experiences on the implementation of Farmers' Rights as set out in Article 9 from the Contracting Parties and other relevant organizations - and to present the results of this compilation in the form of a report that will be the basis of a substantive item of the agenda of the Third Session of the Governing Body to promote the realization of these rights,
ENCOURAGES the Contracting Parties to prepare their reports in an inclusive and participatory manner, involving farmers' organizations as appropriate,
APPRECIATES the involvement of farmers' organizations at this Second Session and affirms its commitment to continue to involve farmers' organizations in relevant work of the Governing Body, including in its future sessions, according to the procedures established by the Governing Body.
This, however, encountered oppositions from Canada, representing the North American Regional Group, and Australia, representing the Southwest Pacific Regional Group, which asserted that the responsibility for implementation of Article 9 rests with national governments and that the resources of the Governing Body should not be allocated to implementation of Article 9 which is not a core function of the International Treaty.
Brazil emphasized in support of the G77 and China position that there is a need to provide policy space at the international level to allow development of policies in line with the International Treaty.
Portugal, representing the European Regional Group, on the other hand, requested official translations of the draft Resolution before the document could be discussed as a working document to be adopted by the Governing Body.
November 1, 2007 paved the way for the fate of the lives of farmers with the adoption of the negotiated final text of the Resolution. Despite numerous revisions on the text of the draft Resolution during the negotiations of the plenary, the Contracting Parties came to an agreement to provide international space and relevance for Farmers' Rights:
THE GOVERNING BODY,
RECALLING the recognition in the International Treaty of the enormous contribution that local and indigenous communities and farmers of all regions of the world have made, and will continue to make, for the conservation and development of plant genetic resources as the basis of food and agriculture production throughout the world;
RECALLING the importance of fully implementing Article 9 of the International Treaty;
RECALLING also that according to Article 9 of the International Treaty, the responsibility for realizing Farmers' Rights, as they relate to plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, rests with national governments;
ACKNOWLEDGING that there is uncertainty in many countries as to how Farmers' Rights can be implemented and that the challenges related to the realization of Farmers' Rights are likely to vary from country to country;
RECOGNIZING that exchange of experiences and mutual assistance between Contracting Parties can significantly contribute in making progress in the implementation of the provisions on Farmers' Rights in the International Treaty;
RECOGNIZING the contribution the Governing Body may give in support of the implementation of Farmers' Rights;
1. ENCOURAGES Contracting Parties and other relevant organizations to submit views and experiences on the implementation of Farmers' Rights as set out in Article 9 of the International Treaty, involving, as appropriate, farmers' organizations and other stakeholders;
2. REQUESTS the Secretariat to collect these views and experiences as a basis for an agenda item for consideration by the Governing Body at its Third Session to promote the realization of Farmers' Rights at the national level, and to disseminate relevant information through the website of the International Treaty, where appropriate;
APPRECIATES the involvement of farmers' organizations at this Second Session and affirms its commitment to continue to involve farmers' organizations in its further work, as appropriate, according to the Rules of Procedure established by the Governing Body.
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