Rome, Italy
4 September 2026
The Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Farmers’ Rights (Expert Group or AHTEG-FR) of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture convened this week at FAO Headquarters in Rome for its seventh meeting, with a principal focus on reviewing the Draft Action Plan to support the implementation of Farmers' Rights, as set out in Article 9 of the International Treaty.
The meeting brought together more than 48 experts and observers from 28 countries, representing Contracting Parties, Farmers’ Organizations, non-governmental and civil society organizations, academia and other interested stakeholders.
Opening the meeting on behalf of Kent Nnadozie the International Treaty Secretary, Mr. Mario Marino, Technical Officer of the International Treaty, thanked the members of the Expert Group and observers for their commitment and valuable contribution to advancing the implementation of Farmers' Rights under the International Treaty.
“Farmers’ Rights are integral to the International Treaty and to its objectives of conserving and sustainably using plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and sharing the benefits arising from their use,” Mr Marino said. “Their effective implementation recognizes the indispensable contribution that farmers, particularly those in centres of origin and crop diversity, have made and continue to make to the diversity on which our food systems depend.”.
Key Outcomes
The AHTEG-FR reviewed the Draft Action Plan developed in response to the gaps and needs identified in the assessment of the state of implementation of Article 9 of the International Treaty. The Secretariat will further develop the draft, taking into account the Expert Group’s recommendations, for consideration at its eighth meeting. The discussions also highlighted the importance of taking Farmers' Rights into account, where relevant and as appropriate, in the implementation of the Funding Strategy and related resource mobilization efforts.
The meeting also benefited from an exchange with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Mr. Olivier Rukundo, Head of Engagement and Cooperation Unit at the Secretariat of the CBD, presented recent developments regarding Article 8(j) of the Convention and its Programme of Work on Indigenous Peoples and local communities. He also updated the meeting on the preparations for the seventeenth meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP-17), to be held in October 2026 in Yerevan, Armenia.
The Expert Group advised the Secretary on a series of webinars aimed at promoting knowledge exchange and raising awareness on issues affecting the implementation of Farmers’ Rights under Article 9 of the International Treaty. Subject to the availability of extra-budgetary resources, the webinars are expected to address the implications for Farmers’ Rights of seed marketing and certification regulations and different plant variety protection systems.
The Expert Group held an initial exchange of views on possible future institutional arrangements to support the Treaty’s work on Farmers’ Rights, including the possible establishment of a Standing Committee on Farmers’ Rights, as requested by the Governing Body.
As the meeting also took place during the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026, the Secretary recalled the observance as an important opportunity to recognize the crucial role and contribution of women farmers in food security, nutrition, and the conservation and sustainable use of agricultural biodiversity, as well as the particular challenges they continue to face.
The outcomes of the meeting will guide the Secretariat's intersessional work on Farmers' Rights, including the further development of the Draft Action Plan, and the preparation for the next meeting of the Expert Group. Participants concluded the meeting by expressing their appreciation to the Governments of Italy, the Netherlands and Norway for their generous support, which made the meeting possible.
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