Strengthening National Capacities on the Implementation of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) – June 7-8, 2012, Thimphu, Bhutan

The National Biodiversity Centre (NBC) in collaboration with  the Bioversity International organized a two day workshop on ‘Strengthening National Capacities on the Implementation of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture’ from 7^th-8^th 2012. Bhutan became a member of the International Treaty in 2003 after ratification by the 83^rd session of the National Assembly. The key objectives of the Treaty are the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of their use, in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity, for sustainable agriculture and food security.

The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Ronald W Vernooy, Genetic Resources Policy Specialist, Bioversity International with the aim to educate the participants on the ITPGRFA and also to provide a forum to identify key stakeholders that could participate in a thematic research project to strengthen the understanding and the implementation of the International Treaty, supported by Bioversity International.

The workshop was attended by a total of 21 participants from various agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests namely the  Department of Livestock, Department of Agriculture, Council for RNR Research of Bhutan, Department of Agriculture Marketing and Cooperatives, Planning and Policy Division, National Soil Service Centre, National Mushroom Centre, Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority, RNR-RDC Yusepang, RNR-RDC Bajo, National Seed Centre and the National Plant Protection Centre as well as a representative from Bhutan Alpine Seeds.