The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has ratified the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. This opens access for Ukraine to the global system of exchange of genetic resources and participation in the international benefit-sharing mechanism, ProAgro Group reports.

The document covers about 64 key crops, including wheat, rice, maize, barley, potatoes, and soybeans, which provide up to 80% of plant-based food worldwide. Access to their genetic resources is critically important for food security and the development of plant breeding.

Ukraine will also be able to participate in the sharing of benefits from the commercialization of genetic resources through a special fund.

The need to join the treaty is обусловлена consequences of the war: part of the genetic collections has been lost, and the infrastructure for their storage has been destroyed.

“Russia’s military aggression destroyed part of our genetic collections. Accession to the International Treaty will open access for Ukraine to the global system of plant genetic resources — this is critically important for the development of breeding and the recovery of the agricultural sector,” emphasized Deputy Minister of Economy Taras Vysotskyi.

Ratification of the document will also contribute to the preservation of biodiversity and the expansion of the genetic base of agricultural crops in Ukraine.

Earlier it was reported that the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine presented to the parliamentary Committee on Agrarian and Land Policy the key provisions of a draft law on the implementation of European Union legislation in the field of sanitary and phytosanitary measures.