Leipzig Declaration on Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

Abstract

At the Fourth International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources in June 1996, participants representing 150 nations gathered in Leipzig, Germany to address the challenges of the conservation and sustainable utilization of genetic resources. They adopted the Leipzig Declaration, which focuses attention on the importance of plant genetic resources for world food security and commits countries to implement the first-ever Global Plan for the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, which was also adopted during the same conference3: 1. In recognition of the essential importance of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA), in particular for the food security of present and future generations, the representatives of one hundred and fifty States and fifty four Organizations have gathered together in Leipzig, at the invitation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, at the Fourth International Technical Conference for Plant Genetic Resources. We have done so to assert and renew our commitment to the conservation and sustainable utilization of these re-sources and to the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, recognizing the desirability of sharing equitably benefits arising from the use of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices relevant to the conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and their sustainable use. We are convinced that these efforts can be an essential contribution to achieving the objectives, and facilitating implementation of, the Convention on Biological Diversity and Agenda 21.