Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Newsroom historic archives | New FAO newsroom
Making plant genetic resources beneficial and accessible for all
 |
|
|
José Esquinas-Alcázar, secretary of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture |
|
Among the items on the agenda of the FAO Conference, 2-13 November 2001, is the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources. The Conference will consider for approval this new international convention, which governments have negotiated through the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. It establishes a multilateral system providing access to plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, as well as to fair and equitable sharing of the benefits obtained from their use. It also includes a provision on farmers' rights. José Esquinas-Alcázar, secretary of the Commission, talks about the Undertaking.
How do you define biodiversity?
Agricultural biodiversity, or more specifically genetic
resources for food and agriculture, is the storehouse that
provides humanity with food, clothes and medicine. It is
essential in the development of sustainable agriculture and
food security.
It is estimated that 10 000 species have been used for human
food and agriculture. However, only about 150 plant species
make up the diets of the majority of the world's population.
Of these, just 12 species provide over 70 percent of food,
while four -- rice, maize, wheat and potatoes -- make up
over 50 per cent of the food supply. Obviously, we are not
taking full advantage of the available resources.
What does this International Undertaking mean?
All countries are highly dependent for their food and
agriculture on plant genetic resources that come from other
nations. Paradoxically, the countries richest in genes are
often the poorest in economic terms. Most of the world's
plant genetic diversity is found in the tropical and
subtropical regions, that is, in developing countries. In
spite of their vital importance for human survival, genetic
resources are being lost at an alarming rate due to the lack
of incentives to continue developing and conserving
them.
This is why the new binding international convention is
aimed at ensuring both the conservation and sustainable use
of plant genetic resources, as well as the fair and
equitable sharing of benefits arising out of their use.
Following several years of negotiations, agreement was
reached on the International Undertaking last June by the
FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and
Agriculture, which includes 160 member countries and the
European Union. However, consensus is still needed on a few
important outstanding issues. Countries are expected to
finalize the negotiations during the FAO Council (30 October
- 1 November). If the FAO Conference (2-13 November) then
approves the convention, as we expect, it will enter into
force as soon as 40 countries have ratified it. From then
on, access to the genetic resources of the most important
crops would be multilaterally regulated, and so would the
sharing of the benefits, including capacity-building, the
transfer of technology and the payment of an equitable share
of the commercial benefits derived from the use of genetic
resources.
Why is genetic diversity important for food?
In order to show the importance of genetic diversity for
food security, we can give a very clear example: the famine
that overwhelmed Europe at the end of the 1830s, due to the
massive failure of potato crops due to disease. The problem
was resolved by finding varieties in Latin America, where
the potato had originated, that were resistant to the
disease. This was only possible because of the great genetic
diversity that farmers in that area had created, developed
and maintained over many generations. Today it is more
important than ever to maintain existing farmers'
traditional varieties, so coming generations can cope with
unpredictable environmental changes and human needs. The
International Undertaking recognizes the enormous
contribution that local and indigenous communities and
farmers make and encourages national governments to
safeguard and promote farmers' rights. These include the
protection of their traditional knowledge, the right to
equitably participate in benefit sharing and the right to
participate in national decision-making regarding plant
genetic resources.
To what extent can biotechnology support the idea behind
the World Food Day theme "Fight hunger to reduce
poverty"?
I prefer to talk in the plural of "biotechnologies", and
there is no doubt that the development and use of new and
traditional biotechnologies can greatly contribute to
reducing hunger and poverty in the world. Genetic resources
and biotechnologies should be considered complementary, as
the first provide the raw material for the second. Even the
most sophisticated biotechnologies do not create genes, but
re-combine those existing in nature to produce new varieties
and agricultural products. Modern biotechnologies provide
powerful tools with the potential to increase and improve
production in various situations, including to the benefit
of small farmers and local economies. The main question lies
in which biotechnologies and for which purpose. Big business
makes big investments and usually wants short-term returns
from a limited range of standardized products, which does
not necessarily serve the goal of reducing world hunger. For
this reason, it is important that investment also be made in
the public sector, so that it can maintain its involvement
in biotechnological research, in order to ensure that the
needs of the poor are well taken care of. FAO is working on
a Code of Conduct on Biotechnology aimed at maximizing its
potential and minimizing its risks.
30 October 2001
Related links