The Second Global Symposium on Farmers’ Rights was held in Manila, Philippines, from 16 to 19 September 2025. The event brought together more than 250 in-person participants from 44 countries, alongside approximately 8,000 virtual participants from around the world.
Theme: Farmers’ Rights: Honouring Heritage, Preserving Biodiversity, and Cultivating Food Security for a Shared Future.
The symposium served as a platform for dialogue on practical and policy measures to protect, promote, and realise Farmers’ Rights as set out in Article 9 of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA).
Participants included policymakers, farmers’ organisations, civil society representatives, academics, and intergovernmental bodies, reflecting the inclusive spirit of the Treaty. Over the four days, discussions focused on pertinent issues such as the promotion of farmers rights, opportunities for cooperation and collaboration, as well as proposals for future approaches to farmers rights.
Programme
Session 1: Promotion and Utilisation of the Options for Encouraging, Guiding and Promoting the Realisation of Farmers’ Rights.
Session 2: Update on the Draft Assessment of the State of Implementation of Article 9 of the International Treaty.
Session 3: Opportunities for Cooperation, Collaboration, and Partnerships to Strengthen the Implementation of Farmers’ Rights.
Session 4: Way Forward and Proposal for Possible Future Approaches.
There was also a field visit to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), University of the Philipines at Los Banos National Plant Genetic Laboratory and the BPI-Los Banos Field Genebank.
In accordance with the guidance of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, the Symposium covered notable experiences, innovative approaches, effective policies, proven practices, valuable insights and lessons learned in the implementation of Farmers’ Rights, as outlined in Article 9 of the ITPGRFA. It also unpacked challenges and opportunities related to the realisation of Farmers’ Rights by Contracting Parties and other relevant stakeholders. Importantly, participants shared ideas for possible future approaches to promote and protect Farmers’ Rights.
Article 9, ITPGRFA: Farmers’ Rights.
9.1. The Contracting Parties recognise the enormous contribution that the local and indigenous communities and farmers of all regions of the world, particularly those in the centres of origin and crop diversity, have made and will continue to make for the conservation and development of plant genetic resources which constitute the basis of food and agriculture production throughout the world.
9.2. The Contracting Parties agree that the responsibility for realising Farmers’ Rights, as they relate to plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, rests with national governments. In accordance with their needs and priorities, each Contracting Party should, as appropriate, and subject to its national legislation, take measures to protect and promote Farmers’ Rights, including:
(a) protection of traditional knowledge relevant to plant genetic resources for food and agriculture;(b) the right to equitably participate in sharing benefits arising from the utilization of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture; and
(c) the right to participate in making decisions, at the national level, on matters related to the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.
9.3 Nothing in this Article shall be interpreted to limit any rights that farmers have to save, use, exchange and sell farm-saved seed/propagating material, subject to national law and as appropriate.
Core Recommendations from the Symposium
-Raise awareness and promote the use of the Options for the Realisation of Farmers’ Rights.
-Share experiences and best practices from national and regional implementation efforts.
-Advance the work of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Farmers’ Rights.
-Enhance partnerships with relevant international and regional institutions.
-Increase financial support for initiatives under Article 9 of the International Treaty.
For more on Farmers’ Rights, see the work of the Secretariat of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
