Material Transfer Agreement for Livestock Genetic Material Export Signed
The Ministry of National Food Security and Research and the Chinese company Royal Group have finalized a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) for the export livestock genetic material of Pakistani buffaloes to China. This will cover the export of buffalo embryos, buffalo semen and buffalo sexed semen. This agreement is the result of continuous diplomatic, technical and regulatory efforts of Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain and Animal Husbandry Commissioner Dr. Syed Murtaza Hassan Andrabi.
Under the agreement, China’s Royal Group has set up a state-of-the-art embryo production and semen processing lab for buffaloes in Pakistan. The Chinese company will import buffalo embryos and buffalo semen of Nili Ravi and other breeds from Pakistan. Furthermore, the Chinese company will also import buffalo sexed semen from Pakistan.
Animal Husbandry Commissioner – Livestock Wing of MNFSR
Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain says that Pakistan is home to the best buffalo breeds in the world, especially the Nili Ravi buffalo, which is famous worldwide for its high milk production and unique genetic characteristics. He said that this agreement will help introduce Pakistani buffalo genetic resources as a global brand. This will create new economic and research opportunities for farmers, breeders and researchers across the country.
Vitagene Farms; Breed Improvement and Research Centre
Economic Impacts of Material Transfer Agreement
According to initial estimates, China will immediately import buffalo embryos worth US$ 5 million from Pakistan. Further, annual export of buffalo embryos, buffalo semen and buffalo sexed semen are expected to reach about US$ 25 million, which will earn valuable foreign exchange for the country and open new international markets for the Pakistani livestock industry.
Details of Material Transfer Agreement
The Federal Minister said that this agreement has been prepared keeping in mind the national interests of Pakistan and the full protection of the sovereign rights of genetic resources. The Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) will serve as a protective framework for Pakistan’s genetic resources, through which access to these resources, their transfer and use will be kept under regular regulations and any unauthorized or improper use will be prevented.
He further said that the agreement has been drafted in accordance with the internationally recognized Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (NAPB) and the Convention on Biological Diversity and the relevant laws of Pakistan.
It was further said that one of the most important features of this agreement is the comprehensive protection of intellectual property rights and national interests related to the genetic resources of Pakistan’s valuable buffaloes.
According to Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, these important provisions in the agreement have ensured that the genetic resources of Pakistan’s buffaloes remain a protected national asset and that the benefits derived from the commercial use of these resources in the future are shared fairly and equitably with Pakistan.
