Congress Ratifies Long-Awaited Treaty Tied to Global Food Security

First signed by President George W. Bush and pending for nearly 15 years, the now ratified International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture will ensure U.S. public and private sector plant breeders have secure access to global plant materials as they work to develop the next generation of plant varieties to meet the needs of a growing population. Under the Treaty, a Standard Material Transfer Agreement ensures that the terms for access to germplasm are uniform and transparent for all contracting parties.