6 July 2025
The Kerala Minister for Agriculture, P. Prasad, has written an urgent letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing grave concerns over proposed amendments to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Plant Treaty). The letter, dated July 5, 2025, warns that the changes could threaten India’s control over its plant genetic resources, compromise food and seed security, and undermine the country’s constitutional framework regarding agriculture.
The main issue raised is a proposal to expand the Multilateral System (MLS) under the treaty from a limited list of 64 crops to “all plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA).” According to Minister Prasad, this move could dilute national and seed sovereignty, as it would allow broader international access to India’s rich germplasm—including potentially non-edible and wild plants—without sufficient consultation with state governments or local stakeholders.
The letter highlights several critical concerns:
- Erosion of National Sovereignty: The amendment could reduce India’s ability to control and protect its plant genetic resources, which the minister argues is a state subject under the Constitution.
- Potential Conflict with the Nagoya Protocol: The proposed changes may violate international agreements India has ratified, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Nagoya Protocol, which require specific conditions and benefit-sharing for access to genetic resources.
- Lack of Accountability: The current treaty package lacks effective tracking and monitoring mechanisms, raising fears of biopiracy and inadequate protection for farmers and indigenous communities.
- Food and Seed Security Risks: There is concern that opening up access could lead to corporate monopolization of seeds, increased costs for farmers, and long-term threats to national food security.
- Omission of Digital Sequence Information (DSI): The letter criticizes the failure to address regulation of DSI, which could undermine India’s data sovereignty and create loopholes for commercial exploitation.
Minister Prasad has requested the Prime Minister’s immediate intervention, urging the central government to:
- Clearly define and communicate India’s position at the upcoming treaty negotiations.
- Convene urgent consultations with farmers’ organizations, state biodiversity authorities, and relevant ministries.
- Withhold endorsement of the current proposal until a unified national stance is developed through proper consultation.
The Working Group meeting on the Plant Treaty is scheduled for July 7–11, 2025. The Kerala government’s appeal underscores the high stakes for India’s agricultural future and the need for robust national safeguards in global negotiations