Editorial - Finalizing the first Report on the State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources

The Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture held its 10^th Regular Session in Rome, from 8 to 12 November 2004. The Commission endorsed the report of the 3^rd Session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Animal Genetic Resources.

The first Report on the State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources has six main sections:

1. The state of agricultural biodiversity in the farm animal sector, describes the major animal production systems and related animal genetic resources, their utilization and conservation;

2. The state of the art in animal genetic resources management, is a review of current scientific and technical methodologies for the utilization, development and conservation of animal genetic resources, including characterization and valuation, conservation methodologies, biotechnologies, genetic evaluation and improvement;

3. Changing demands on livestock production and their implications for future policies, strategies and programmes, is a review of past and present policies, strategies, programmes and management practices, analyzing future demands and trends of animal products, changes in production systems and their impacts on animal genetic resources;

4. The state of national capacities and future capacity building requirements, is an assessment of the state of capacities at the national and regional levels and the requirements and opportunities for capacity building;

5. The strategic priorities for action, includes the Report on Strategic Priorities for Action, revised by the 10th Session of the Commission and based mainly on Country Reports;

6. The way ahead - mainstreaming animal genetic resources, considers options for achieving the effective and efficient implementation of priority actions identified in section 5 above.

The first Report on the State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources will be presented to the 4^th Session of the Working Group in May 2006 and, after revision, to the 11^th Session of the Commission to be held late 2006 or beginning 2007. Its final adoption by countries will be at an International Technical Conference on Animal Genetic Resources planned for 2007 in a host country not yet determined.

The Editors

Animal Genetic Resources Information

Ricardo Cardellino (Editor-in-Chief)
S. Galal and J. Boyazoglu (Editors)
FAO, Animal Production and Health Division
Via delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy
Room C-588; Tel: +39-06-57055620; Fax.: +39-06-57053927; E-mail: [email protected]

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