Over the past 30 years or so, the nature of the international legal framework that governs the collection, circulation, and use of genetic resources has changed radically. Gone are the days where genetic resources were considered the common heritage of humankind. 

Instead, genetic resources are now governed by a growing number of multilateral treaties, the most important of which are: 

• the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 
• the 2001 International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (the Plant Treaty) 
• the 2012 Nagoya Protocol.  

One of the consequences of this new regulatory environment is that researchers working with plant genetic resources face several challenges.  

Our aim is to develop workable solutions to ensure ongoing access to genetic resources for the Centre’s researchers.