Increase and improve the provision of goods and services from agriculture, forestry and fisheries in a sustainable manner.

Biodiversity for food and agriculture is among the Earth’s most important resources. Crops, livestock, aquatic organisms, forest trees, micro-organisms and invertebrates – thousands of species and their genetic variability – make up the web of biodiversity upon which the world’s food production depends. Biodiversity for food and agriculture contributes to food security and nutrition and sustainable livelihoods and, through the provision of regulating and supporting ecosystem services, underpins the natural potential for adaptation to ever-changing socio-economic and environmental dynamics, such as population growth, dietary preferences, nutritional needs and climate change.

The FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Commission) strives to halt the loss of genetic resources for food and agriculture, and to ensure world food security and sustainable development by promoting their conservation and sustainable use, including exchange, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their use. The Commission is the only intergovernmental forum that addresses all components of biodiversity that are specifically relevant to food and agriculture.

The Commission’s work is aligned with the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, especially with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 and the Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD) ‘Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 and the Aichi Targets.’ The Commission has committed itself to consider adjustments or additions to its work to address the implementation of the CBD’s post-2020 global biodiversity framework once it has been approved. The Commission’s work equally contributes to FAO’s four betters, in particular “better production” and “better environment.”  

The Commission’s work is guided by its Strategic Plan, which defines its vision, mission goals and objectives and contains the 10-year Multi-Year Programme of Work (MYPOW).

The subprogramme Support to the Multi-Year Programme of Work of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agricultureaddresses parts of the resource requirements towards the implementation of the MYPOW.

Specifically, this subprogramme will support the preparation of two State of the World reports (SoWs), preparation of Commission sessions and those of its subsidiary bodies, awareness-raising and strengthened cooperation. Preparation of pre-session documentation will allow Members to make informed decisions, and provide guidance to national implementers of Global Plans of Action (GPAs) from government, research and civil society organizations/non-governmental organizations (CSOs/ NGOs).

The subprogramme will support the preparation of country reports contributing to global assessments, the analysis of data and information for the global assessments and the development of global policies, including through the organization of regional consultations Commission Members have nominated National Focal Points (NFPs) for sectoral and cross-sectoral genetic resources topics. In many countries, these NFPs are leaders of national genetic resources committees that may involve more than one ministry.

Operationally, FAO will directly interact with the NFPs. The Commission Secretariat and the secretariats of its intergovernmental technical working groups (ITWGs) operate in close collaboration with other organizations, for example the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR) and other research organizations, and a range of NGOs and CSOs.

This subprogramme will produce four outputs:

1: Improved knowledge and global assessments of genetic resources for food and agriculture (GRFA)/biodiversity for food and agriculture (BFA);

2: Strengthened sectoral polices and programmes on GRFA;

3: Strengthened polices and programmes on cross-cutting issues of GRFA/ BFA and improved collaboration across sectors; and

4: Strengthened strategic partnerships with other actors relevant for the Commission's MYPOW.

CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNED

The subprogramme is low risk. Delays in submission of country reports or low rates of data updating in FAO’s genetic resources databases are a risk that can affect the quality of GPA implementation progress and SoW reports.

This could also have an impact on the level of ownership of the Commission Members and consequently create possible challenges for potential follow-up actions and countries’ commitment to their implementation. Also, policy processes may not take place, be delayed or reduced from the planned schedule. 

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