In the development policy context, a number of other international agreements play an important role alongside the CBD:

• International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)
  Objectives: Conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources as well as equitable benefit-sharing in harmony with the CBD for sustainable agriculture and food security.
  ftp://ftp.fao.org/ag/cgrfa/it/ITPGRe.pdf
• Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
  Objectives: To balance trade interests and measures to protect intellectual property rights, especially by extending the scope of protection under the law, for example by means of patents.
  www.wto.org/english/docs_e/legal_e/27-trips_01_e.htm
• Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
  Objectives: To define and protect traditional knowledge concerning biological and genetic resources.
  www.wipo.int/tk/en/igc
• Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
  Objectives: To regulate transboundary movements (trade/exchange) of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
  www.cbd.int/biosafety/protocol.shtml
• International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV Convention)
  Objective: Protection of breeders’ property rights.
  www.upov.int/en/publications/conventions/1991/pdf/act1991.pdf