New Delhi, July 10 -- Global treaty talks on plant genetic resources have reignited concerns among scientists about weakening national sovereignty and farmers' rights, as countries push to expand access to seeds and digital genetic data without firm benefit-sharing guarantees.

More than 65 government representatives have gathered in Lima, Peru this week to prepare for the 11th Session of the Governing Body (GB11) of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), scheduled to take place later this year.

One of the most contentious issues on the table is the proposed amendment to the Treaty that would fully expand the list of plants and genetic material included in Annex I for sharing under the Mu...