Research / Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs)
The International Treaty and the CGIAR
CIP maintains genebanks of genetic resources held in trust for the use of future generations. The germplasm, or reproductive material, is available worldwide. These valuable collections preserve the vast genetic diversity of these crops and serve as a source of characteristics that can improve root and tuber production throughout the world.
Background
In November 2001, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture was adopted by the FAO Conference and entered into force on 29th June 2004. This Treaty provides for a multilateral system for exchange of germplasm that shall be used or conserved only for the purposes of research, breeding and training for food and agriculture. In October 2006, CIP and the CGIAR Centers signed an agreement with the Governing Body of the International Treaty, placing its plant genetic resource collections under the purview of the International Treaty. The 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.
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
Genebank network
The network of CGIAR genebanks now operates as the CGIAR Systemwide Genetic Resources Program under the direction of Bioversity International. The program has a steering committee to guide policies for genetic resource management, and the Centers receive separate funding for genetic resources work. Standardized systems and databases have been developed to track genetic materials.
As of 1 February 2008, CIP follows the protocols described in the following Standard Material Transfer Agreement (SMTA) for the distribution of plant genetic materials (Annex-1 and non-Annex-1 plant materials)
SMTA for Annex-1 and non-Annex 1 plant materials, view agreement:
English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Russian, ChineseHow to request plant genetic materials from CIP*
- Select the plant genetic material. Information on passport and evaluation data of crops maintained by CIP can be found at the SINGER website: singer.cgiar.org. For further information about wild Solanum, see: www.potgenebank.org/. If you are interested in advanced breeding materials of potato or sweetpotato developed by CIP please contact ADU. We welcome you to visit our page dedicated to potato varieties (http://research.cip.cgiar.org/potato/).
- Contact CIP's germplasm Acquisition and Distribution Unit (ADU) (see below) to request the distribution of the plant genetic material. CIP's ADU will reply to indicate if the material is available and will provide the requestor with the SMTA. Please send us a brief note (maximum 1/2 page) indicating the objectives of the research project. This information will be included in our data bases and used when considering the request.
- Acknowledge acceptance of the SMTA. CIP ADU will then request that the recipient obtain/supply an import permit from the Plant Quarantine Authority of the importing country.
- Upon receipt of the import permit, the CIP ADU will send the plant genetic material accompanied by a CIP Phytosanitary Statement, a Phytosanitary Certificate, and a copy of the SMTA.
An on-line ordering system is available, click here to enter the New On-Line Ordering System.
Your feedback to improve the On-line Ordering System is greatly appreciated.
In addition CIP maintains a collection of non-plant materials (virus, bacteria, fungi) for use in research, these are distributed following the protocols of the MTA for non-plant materials view agreement
Dr. Enrique Chujoy, ADU Head
Genetic Materials requests should be addressed to CIP's Germplasm Acquistion and Distribution Unit, cip-adu@cgiar.org
Annex-1 crops include potato, except Solanum phureja, and sweetpotato.
Non-Annex 1 crops include Solanum phureja and other Andean Root and Tuber Crops.
Non-plant materials include micro-organisms, animals, and aquatic and marine materials.
FAQs about CIP's germplasm
