As the world’s population increases, production systems become more globalised and forests are destroyed for commercial purposes, bio-diversity is declining at a steady rate. But it’s this bio-diversity and the associated traditional knowledge that will guarantee the world’s long term food security. There are concerns about the misappropriation and exploitation of biological resources that not only violates the rights of the traditional communities who conserve them; it also adversely affects their conservation and sustainable use. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture -- known as the International Seed Treaty -- was put in place in 2004 to guarantee responsible global governance ensuring that essential plant genetic resources can stay accessible. But how effective is it?

Reporter: Cheryl Northey