A group of scientists, The Scientists for Genetic Diversity, has written to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Indian Council of Agricultural Research Director General ML Jat to express their concern over the “compromise proposal” presented at the 11th meeting of the Governing Body (GB11) of the International Treaty on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The proposal concerns “strengthening the functioning of the Multilateral System for Access and Benefit Sharing (MLS)”.
GB11 takes place in Lima, Peru. Scientists say the proposal is fundamentally unfair, the deal is one-sided and designed to favor big agribusiness and big tech corporations. They urged the center to reject the proposal.
The “compromise proposal” offered a package of measures to improve the functioning of the multilateral access and benefit-sharing system, including a revised Standard Material Transfer Agreement (SMTA). Payment rates and limits will be approved at the 12th Governing Body Meeting (GB12) and incorporated into the adopted, revised SMTA. Expanding the coverage of the multilateral system would be completed by GB12.
The scientists also recommended the establishment of an “ad hoc group of experts” with a time-limited mandate until the 12th session to define the scope of the extension.
In a letter to Mr Chouhan, the scientists said the proposal allows multinational corporations to consolidate a monopoly over the seed sector and gain unlimited control over the vital genetic resources of the Global South. “It is an insult to anyone’s intelligence to call it a ‘compromise’ because it does not meet any of the vocal demands of developing countries for justice, equity and recognition of the property rights of farmers and indigenous communities,” they said.
The letter added that the compromise proposal conveniently postponed the much-neglected but critical issue of setting mandatory payment schedules and rates for the use of genetic resources to the upcoming GB12. “This deliberate delay after years of negotiations serves only to maintain the status quo – unlimited access for the North and minimal financial return for the gene-rich South,” they said.
They expressed their dismay at the “deafening silence” that characterized the presence of the Indian delegation at GB11. “The failure to strategically defend this flawed compromise proposal represents a spectacular failure to protect the rights of our farming communities, who are the true custodians of our precious genetic resources,” the researchers said.
Published – 29 Nov 2025 21:34 IST
