Annual support to the Benefit-sharing Fund (BSF)

Norway launched its annual contribution to the Benefit-sharing Fund (BSF) during the official opening ceremony of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in 2008 to stress the importance of on-farm conservation of PGRFA, complementing ex situ conservation efforts, and to ensure financial support based on a predictable contribution to the BSF from a user country. At the same time, this annual contribution is done in recognition of the benefit of Norwegian agriculture of plant genetic resources that originate from other areas of the globe. To illustrate this argument, this voluntary contribution is related to the seed trade and equals 0.1% of annual seed sales in Norway. It is referred to in the State Budget, endorsed by the parliament. Norway considers it to be a use-based, voluntary monetary benefit sharing. In addition, the annual contributions give an opportunity to bring the issue regularly to the attention of the political leadership of the ministry.