On 3 November 2001, the thirty-first session of the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) adopted, by its resolution 3/2001, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and Interim Arrangements for its Implementation.

The objectives of the International 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 International Treaty establishes a new and binding framework for cooperation in the area of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. The Treaty is supported by a Secretariat hosted by the FAO.

The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, at its sixth meeting, held in The Hague, The Netherlands, from 7 to 19 April 2002 recognized the importance of the International Treaty vis-à-vis the CBD and appealed to Parties and other Governments to give priority consideration to the signature and ratification of the International Treaty (Decision VI/6)