FAO news > Plant & animal genetic diversity

FAO news > Plant & animal genetic diversity http://www.fao.org/news/newsroom-home/en/ News from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization en FAO Newsroom RSS Newsfeed Export http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 2009 FAO FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) First Global Plan of Action for Forest Genetic Resources adopted by FAO members The first Global Plan for Action for the Conservation, Sustainable Use and Development of Forest Genetic Resources was adopted last week by FAO's Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The Commission has asked FAO to ensure mobilization of adequate financial resources for its implementation, particularly in support of developing countries. 22 April 2013, Rome - The first Global Plan for Action for the Conservation, Sustainable Use and Development of Forest Genetic Resources was adopted last week by FAO's Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

The Commission has asked FAO to develop an implementation strategy for the Plan of Action and to ensure mobilization of adequate financial resources for its implementation, particularly in support of developing countries.

Conserving forest genetic resources is vital for the future

Estimates of the number of tree species worldwide vary from 80 000 to 100 000. Forest ecosystems remain essential refuges for biodiversity, and 12 percent of the world's forests are designated primarily for the conservation of biological diversity.

The contribution of forests and trees to meeting the present and future challenges of food security, poverty alleviation and sustainable development depends on the availability of rich diversity between and within tree species. Genetic diversity is needed to ensure that forest trees can survive, adapt and evolve under changing environmental conditions. It also maintains the vitality of forests and provides resilience to stresses such as pests and disease.

Furthermore, genetic diversity is needed for artificial selection, breeding and domestication programmes for the development of adapted varieties or to strengthen useful traits. In many countries, the prospects for sustainable development in rural areas will be greatly influenced by the state of diversity in forest ecosystems and species.

Priority areas for action

The efforts to sustainably manage forest genetic resources at international and national levels need to rely on solid and coherent information. The country reports on the State of Forest Genetic Resources as developed following FAO guidelines are the main source of comparable information. It is also the basis for the identification of priority areas for action.

The key priority areas for action include improving the availability of and access to information on forest genetic resources; development of the worldwide conservation strategy; sustainable use, development and management of forest genetic resources; establishing and reviewing relevant policies and legal frameworks to integrate major issues related to sustainable management of forest genetic resources, and strengthening institutional and human capacity.

The proposed Global Plan of Action is now set for final approval by the FAO Conference, which will take place in Rome in June 2013.

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/174909/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/174909/icode/ Sun, 21 Apr 2013 22:00:00 GMT World’s gene pool crucial for survival Conserving and making the most of the planet's wealth of genetic resources will be crucial for survival, as people will need to produce sufficient and nutritious food for a growing population, FAO Deputy Director-General Dan Gustafson said today addressing the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome, 15 April 2013 -- Conserving and making the most of the planet's wealth of genetic resources will be crucial for survival, as people will need to produce sufficient and nutritious food for a growing population, FAO Deputy Director-General Dan Gustafson said today addressing the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

The Commission, the only intergovernmental body to specifically address all matters related to the world's gene pool for food and agriculture, is marking its 30th anniversary and is meeting in Rome this week.

"FAO believes that adaptation of the agriculture sector is not merely an option, but an imperative for human survival, and genetic resources will form an essential part of any adaptation strategy," he said.

"Ensuring food security in the face of climate change is among the most daunting challenges facing humankind," Gustafson said.

Plants account for over 80 percent of the human diet. Some 30 crops account for 95 percent of human food energy needs and just five of them - rice, wheat, maize, millet and sorghum - alone provide 60 percent. Yet more than 7000 plant species have been gathered and cultivated since people first learned to do so many millennia ago. And there are as many as 30 000 edible terrestrial plant species in the world.

"Climate change impacts are expected to reduce agricultural productivity, stability and incomes in many areas that already experience high levels of food insecurity. Yet world agricultural production must increase 60 percent by the middle of this century - less than 40 years from now - to keep pace with the food requirements of the world's growing population,"said Gustafson.

"Genetic resources for food and agriculture play a crucial role in food security, secure livelihoods and environmental services. They also play a crucial role in enabling crops, livestock, aquatic organisms and forest trees to withstand climate change-related conditions."

Climate Change Roadmap

The Commission will be considering a Roadmap on Climate Change and Genetic Resources for an initial phase through 2017. Activities foreseen include awareness-raising, developing guidelines on integrating genetic resources for food and agriculture into adaptation planning, identifying hotspots where biodiversity is under particular threat from climate change and developing an action plan to conserve crop wild relatives from the threat of extinction.

While the Commission is more advanced on plant and animal genetic resources, FAO is also making significant progress in addressing the genetic resources of forests, aquatic life, micro-organisms and invertebrates, reflecting the broadened mandate of the Commission since 1995. including, Bacteria, for example, are essential for production of yogurt and cheese, earthworms churn soil and break down organic matter into essential nutrients and a plethora of pollinators, such as the honeybee, enable 35 percent of the world's crops to reproduce.

Hitting where it hurts

Nations in the warmest parts of the planet will be hardest hit by climate change, as temperature rises are expected to be sharpest and their agricultural systems least prepared to cope with climate change impacts. Arid and semi-arid zones are expected to become drier, for one, while precipitation in other areas will be more variable and much less predictable.

"It's clear that humankind is going to have to use all the tools at our disposal in order to face up to the challenge of producing enough food as the planet warms," said Linda Collette, Secretary of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

"We are constantly adding to the long inventories of known land and aquatic animals, plants, trees, invertebrates such as pollinating insects and even microscopic organisms - and their genes - and some hold the key to climate change adaptation. Not only must we conserve that genetic diversity, but we must also ensure access to them and ensure we equitably and fairly share the benefits derived from their use," she explained.

Genetic diversity under threat

FAO estimates that in the last century, about 75 percent of crop genetic diversity was lost as farmers worldwide switched to genetically uniform, high-yielding varieties and abandoned multiple local varieties.

Having recourse to genetic material is however essential to adapt and improve agriculture in the face of threats, such as diseases or warming climate that can alter growing conditions. For example, a variety of Turkish wheat, collected and stored in a seed gene bank in 1948, was rediscovered in the 1980s, when it was found to carry genes resistant to many types of disease-causing fungi. Plant breeders now use those genes to develop wheat varieties that are resistant to a range of diseases.

According to the most recent FAO data, 22 percent of livestock breeds are at risk of extinction. However, the local breeds that are least understood often carry genetic defenses that enable them to walk long distances to watering holes, survive with reduced water and fodder intake or fight off tropical diseases. Many ‘industrial' cattle breeds - for example, the high output dairy animals - often don't make it under such harsh conditions. In addition:

The world's aquatic ecosystems are made up of approximately 175 000 species of fish, mollusks, crustaceans and aquatic plants. Just ten species account for the world's haul in capture fisheries, while ten species account for half of global fish farming production;
There are 80 000 tree species worldwide, but just 1 percent have been studied in any depth. Forests are home to 80 percent of terrestrial biodiversity, while forests are being cleared at an alarming rate - with consequences for global warming;
Invertebrates constitute 95 percent of all animal life, while the hidden treasure trove of biodiversity of micro-organisms is incalculable.

The 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, sustainable use, including exchange, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their use.]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/174330/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/174330/icode/ Sun, 14 Apr 2013 22:00:00 GMT Mediterranean and Black Sea sharks risk extinction Shark populations in the Mediterranean and Black Sea have dropped dramatically over the last two centuries and now risk extinction, with serious implications for the region's entire marine ecosystem and food chains, according to a new FAO study. 14 March 2013, Rome - Shark populations in the Mediterranean and Black Sea have dropped dramatically over the last two centuries and now risk extinction, with serious implications for the region's entire marine ecosystem and food chains, according to a new FAO study.

"Sharks in the Mediterranean Sea have declined by more than 97 percent in number and ‘catch weight' over the last 200 years. They risk extinction if current fishing pressure continues," the study found.

In the Black Sea, although information is scarce, catches of the main shark species have also declined to about half of catches in the early 1990s.

"This loss of top predators could hold serious implications for the entire marine ecosystem, greatly affecting food webs throughout this region," it added.

The study, Elasmobranchs of the Mediterranean and Black Sea: Status, Ecology and Biology, was undertaken by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean, one of several FAO regional bodies working in the fisheries sector.

Critically endangered

It found that cartilaginous fish species, such as sharks and rays, "are by far the most endangered group of marine fish in the Mediterranean and Black sea where 85 species are known to occur. Of 71 species assessed in the Mediterranean Sea in 2007, 30 (42 percent) were found to be threatened, including 13 percent critically endangered, 11 percent endangered and 13 percent vulnerable. Another 18 percent were categorized as near-threatened.

Cartilaginous fish have skeletons made of cartilage, rather than bones. Within that group, sharks, rays and skates are scientifically termed Elasmobranchs. Their biological characteristics, including low fecundity, late maturity and slow growth make them more vulnerable than bony fish, as their regeneration rates are slower.

Issues such as "overfishing, wide use of non-selective fishing practices and habitat degradation" are therefore affecting these species more than others.

In general sharks and rays have not been deliberately targeted in the Mediterranean and Black Sea, but caught accidentally. Annual aggregated reported landings in the Mediterranean and Black Sea currently amount to some 7 000 tonnes, compared to 25 000 tonnes in 1985 - an indication of the severity of their decline.

At the same time, however fishing activities targeting sharks are intensifying due to rapidly increasing demand for shark fins, meat and cartilage.

Habitat disturbance

This is compounded by extensive damage to, or disturbance of, their habitats, caused by shipping, underwater construction and mining or by chemical, sound and electromagnetic contamination.

Among the most recent measures adopted by the Commission to protect sharks and rays is the prohibition of ‘finning' (removal of fins at sea and discarding of carcass) and the reduction of trawl fishing within 3 nautical miles off the coast to enhance protection of coastal sharks.

The Commission has also recommended Mediterranean and Black Sea countries to invest in scientific research programmes aimed at identifying potential nursery areas and to consider time and area closures to protect juveniles of sharks and rays from fishing activities.

Other initiatives undertaken by the Commission have included the organization of several meetings and courses aimed at better understanding these species and their habitats and creating a background of Regional knowledge to guide GFCM Members in developing national plans to protect these key species.

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/171847/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/171847/icode/ Wed, 13 Mar 2013 23:00:00 GMT Diets must become sustainable say FAO and Bioversity Immediate action to promote sustainable diets and food biodiversity so as to improve the health of humans and of the planet is urged in a book just published by FAO and Bioversity International. The pace of biodiversity loss and ecosystems degradation, and the human health issues that arise in consequence, make it urgent to address the quality of agriculture and food systems and of diets. 8 August 2012, Rome - Immediate action to promote sustainable diets and food biodiversity so as to improve the health of humans and of the planet is urged in a book just published by FAO and Bioversity International.

“Regardless of the many successes of agriculture in the last three decades, it is clear that food systems, and diets, are not sustainable,” says Barbara Burlingame, Principal Officer of FAO’s Nutrition and Consumer Protection Division, in a preface to the book, Sustainable Diets and Biodiversity.

“While over 900 million people in the world suffer from hunger, even more – about 1.5 billion – are overweight or obese, and an estimated two billion suffer from micronutrient malnutrition including vitamin A, iron, or iodine deficiency,” Burlingame notes.

The problem of feeding the world’s growing population has so far been seen largely in terms of providing sufficient quantities of food, the book points out. But the pace of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation, coupled with emerging health issues related to diet, make it urgent to address the quality of agriculture and food systems. Poor diets are linked to marked increases in non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cardio-vascular diseases across the world.

Heavy footprints

High-input industrial agriculture and long-distance transport have made refined carbohydrates and fats affordable and available across the globe, leading to an overall simplification of diets and reliance on a limited number of energy-rich foods. But such foods lack nutrient quality and have heavy carbon and water footprints. Cheap, energy-dense foods have also come at the cost of flavour, diversity and cultural connection.

Currently just three major staples crops – corn, wheat and rice – provide 60 percent of the dietary energy from plant origin at global level, while, with rising incomes in developing economies, huge numbers of people are abandoning traditional plant-based foods in favour of diets rich in meat, dairy products, fats and sugar.

The book argues that modern diets and food production methods play a significant role in shrinking plant and animal genetic diversity, with 17,291 species out of 47,677 assessed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature described as threatened with extinction.

Urgent need

“There is an urgent need to change the paradigm of agricultural production in order to integrate the dimension of nutritional quality in our decisions as to what to produce and where,” writes Emile Frison, Director General of Rome-based Bioversity International.

“This requires us to move beyond the major staples and to look at the many hundreds and thousands of Neglected and Underutilized plant and animal species that mean the difference between an unsustainable and a sustainable diet.”

In Kenya, for instance, Bioversity have successfully helped reinstate a number of leafy green vegetables until recently considered as poor people’s food into local diets and markets. Promotion of the traditional plants, including African night shade, cowpea and pumpkin leaves, spider plant and vine spinach, has increased demand both within households and in the market. Smallholder farmers are also benefiting.

In India, healthy cereals such as foxtail and finger millet have been reintroduced in areas where they had been abandoned due to government policies promoting cassava production for starch. Efforts are also underway to promote native Andean cereals such as quinoa and amaranth at the international level. The United Nations has declared 2013 to be the International Year of Quinoa.

Major effort

“The transition of diets based on energy-dense foods high in fat and sugar is not inevitable,” writes Frison. “We must make a major effort to ensure that all people in the world will not only have adequate food but adequate nutrition to meet their needs”.

Our food systems need to undergo ‘radical transformations’ towards a more efficient use of resources and more efficiency and equity in the consumption of food and towards sustainable diets, Burlingame says.

“Sustainable diets can address the consumption of foods with lower water and carbon footprints, promote the use of food biodiversity, including traditional and local foods, with their many nutritionally rich species and varieties,” she adds. “They can also contribute to the transition to nutrition-sensitive and climate-smart agriculture and nutrition-driven food systems.”

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/153694/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/153694/icode/ Tue, 07 Aug 2012 22:00:00 GMT Agricultural Biodiversity to Improve Nutrition Food Security Placing renewed emphasis on sustaining the natural variety of crops and animals contributing to agriculture, including neglected yet nutritious traditional foods, can improve food security and address growing global concerns over poor nutrition and its negative health effects, officials said at the launch of a new international project at the World Nutrition Rio Congress 2012. 28 April, 2012, Rio de Janeiro - A project aimed at using research and education to tackle growing global concerns over the negative health implications of poor nutrition and also improve food security was officially launched during the World Nutrition Rio Congress 2012 in Rio today.

A narrowing of variety in people's diets, with nutritionally-poor processed foods dominating the dinner table, has led to a raft of health issues. One third of the world's population is suffering from hunger and micronutrient malnutrition, while obesity and diet-related chronic illnesses have reached critical levels.

The diversity of crops and their wild relatives, trees, animals, microbes and other species contributing to food production - known as agricultural biodiversity - can counter these trends, said Emile Frison, Director General of Bioversity International, which is coordinating the project to further research and promote the links between biodiversity and good nutrition. "Diversity of diet, founded on diverse farming systems, delivers better nutrition and greater health, with additional benefits for human productivity and livelihoods," Frison said. "Agricultural biodiversity is absolutely essential to cope with the predicted impacts of climate change."

The Global Environment Facility (GEF)'s multi-country project on Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition Project is led by Brazil, Kenya, Sri Lanka and Turkey and coordinated by Bioversity International, with implementation support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

FAO's principal nutrition officer Barbara Burlingame notes that dietary energy supply can be met by a few staple crops only, without biodiversity. However, diets that are adequate for human health must be composed of a diversity of foods, with biodiversity being the key. "This project includes a research component that will help to improve the evidence base on the nutritional attributes of food biodiversity, thus linking food and nutrition security with conserving biodiversity through sustainable use."

As well as researching biodiversity's role in nutrition, the US $35-million project, supported by GEF with US$5.5 million, and contributions from partner governments and agencies, aims to provide information on the nutritional and health benefits of traditional food sources to the four partner countries. The results will enhance the development of policies and regulatory frameworks that promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of important and underutilized foods.

"To meet the challenge of feeding the world population of around nine billion by 2050, we need to consider not only sustainably producing sufficient food but also working towards diversified nutrition, which means providing a healthy diet for all," said Braulio Dias, Executive Director, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). "Agricultural biodiversity plays a central role in meeting this challenge."

Neglected or forgotten traditional foods, which are often more nutritious and better adapted to local environments, and which therefore have fewer impacts on ecosystems - are crucial to this bigger picture.

"In India, for example, a long series of studies to improve the use of so-called minor millets among very poor farmers has shown multiple beneficial impacts on yields, incomes, profits, the nutritional value of popular snack and breakfast foods and female empowerment, all promoting the likely conservation of these crops and their biological diversity in farmers' fields," Frison said.

Examples of these foods, some of which have gained global popularity, are:

Indigenous leafy vegetables such as amaranth leaves, cleome and nightshade, which are now acknowledged as significant sources of vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants

Lycopene-rich guava varieties, acerola and pitanga. In Brazil, which already has a great deal of biodiversity in its food supply, these former garden fruits are now commercially produced and processed. Another nutrient-rich fruit from Brazil and elsewhere is the popular açaí berry

Food condiments and spices, which have recently been reported to have anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, and anti carcinogenic properties. Spices also contribute to daily intakes of iron, zinc and calcium

Arugula (or rocket), a nutritious vegetable once collected as a wild food, and quinoa an extremely nutritious grain-like crop from the Andes, have both found wide-scale acceptance in grocery aisles and on restaurant plates around the world as a healthy, nutritious and tasty food, Quinoa holds particular promise in that it is highly adaptable to different climatic and geographic conditions and 2013 has been cleared year of the Quinoa by the United Nations

The project is consistent with the Cross-Cutting initiative on biodiversity for food and nutrition, adopted by the CBD at COP8 (the eighth meeting of the decision-making body of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) in 2006 in recognition of the importance of the links between biodiversity, food and nutrition.

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/141913/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/141913/icode/ Fri, 27 Apr 2012 22:00:00 GMT FAO moves to halt plant genetic erosion The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has adopted a new global framework for the conservation and sustainable use of the diversity of plants on which food and agriculture depend. FAO’s governing Council meeting in Rome approved the Second Global Plan of Action for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. 1 December 2011, Rome - The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has adopted a new global framework for the conservation and sustainable use of the diversity of plants on which food and agriculture depend.

FAO’s governing Council last Wednesday approved the Second Global Plan of Action for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, which represents a renewed international commitment to ensuring effective management of plant diversity as a key element in fighting poverty and achieving increased food security in the face of climate change.

Erosion threat

Plant diversity is threatened by “genetic erosion”, a term coined by scientists for the loss of individual genes or combinations of genes, such as those found in locally adapted landraces.

One of the main causes of genetic erosion, according to FAO’s 2011 State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, is the replacement of local varieties by modern varieties. Other causes include environmental degradation, urbanization and land clearing through deforestation and bush fires.

Commitment confirmed

“Through the Second Global Plan of Action the world community confirms its commitment to halting genetic erosion and preserving the wealth of plant genetic resources’’ said Linda Collette, Secretary of the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

“These resources provide valuable traits for meeting challenges of the future, such as adapting our crops to changing climatic conditions or disease outbreaks.“

The main focus of the Second Global Plan of Action is to strengthen conservation and sustainable use of plants and seed systems, and the crucial linkages between them, through a combination of appropriate policies, use of scientific information, farmers’ knowledge and action.

Priority activities

It contains a set of 18 inter-related Priority Activities prepared on the basis of regional consultations and the gaps and needs identified by the Second Report on the State of the Worlds Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

The Second Global Plan of Action urges all countries to better manage crop diversity in farmers’ fields; develop strategies to protect, collect and conserve crop wild relatives and wild food plants that under threat, support use of a wider range of traits for plant breeding and strengthen seed systems especially of locally adapted varieties.

Call to donors

The Plan also calls on the donor community to boost national and international efforts to strengthen institutions and capacities to address these globally agreed priorities.

“This is a major accomplishment” said Mr. Modibo Traore, Assistant Director General, of Agriculture and Consumer Protection Department. “I thank our members for putting their faith in FAO. Together we will need to make concerted efforts in achieving the goals.”

The original Global Plan of Action was adopted through the Leipzig Declaration in 1996. ]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/113740/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/113740/icode/ Wed, 30 Nov 2011 23:00:00 GMT New fund for livestock biodiversity management at FAO Germany, Norway and Switzerland have contributed a first donation of $1,000,000 to a new, FAO-managed fund designed to help developing countries conserve and sustainably use their livestock breeds. The fund will provide financing for individual projects submitted by countries in support of the internationally-agreed Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources. 21 July 2011, Rome - Germany, Norway and Switzerland have contributed a first donation of $1,000,000 to a new, FAO-managed fund designed to help developing countries conserve and sustainably use their livestock breeds.

The fund will provide financing for individual projects submitted by countries in support of the internationally-agreed Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources. The plan, adopted by all FAO member countries in 2007, has become a key instrument for the conservation and sustainable use of animal genetic resources at global, regional and national level.

Innovative selection process

Any developing country may put forward projects for financing by the fund, which is due to become operational in September. "The money will be disbursed on the basis of letters of agreement between applicant countries and FAO, following an innovative, transparent and impartial selection process led by FAO's Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture," says Linda Collette, the Secretary of the Commission.

Some 21 percent of the world's more than 8000 livestock breeds are classified as at risk of extinction. But since the Global Plan of Action went into force, countries' reporting on breeds' population status is improving and points to a slowing of the reported rate of extinction.

Major achievement

"The adoption of the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources, the first internationally agreed framework for the management of livestock diversity, was a major achievement - a milestone for the livestock sector and for the management of agricultural biodiversity," says Irene Hoffmann, Chief of FAO's Animal Genetic Resources Branch. "Since 2007, it has become a key instrument for the conservation and sustainable use of animal genetic resources at global, regional and national levels and created important momentum in many countries."

Countries demonstrated their interest in the Global Plan of Action by translating it into 9 languages serving around 20 countries - and it is currently being translated into another 12 languages. This will increase awareness of sustainable management of animal genetic resources among stakeholders.

Countries are taking important steps in its implementation, although at different speeds and with different priorities. While developing countries aim to strengthen linkages between genetic diversity, livelihoods and food security, several developed countries highlight the links between genetic diversity and landscapes, and focus their activities on development, labelling and marketing of high-value products.

Livestock policies

Several countries are currently revising their livestock or breeding policies and strategies. 16 countries have so far endorsed national strategies for improved animal genetic resources management, and according to informal surveys, 22 more national strategies are in process of development and 15 more are planned. Regional organizations, for example AU-IBAR in Africa, have included use and conservation of genetic resources in their newly developed strategic plans. Such concerted efforts are bearing results already.

A wide portfolio of animal genetic resources is crucial to adapting and developing agricultural production systems to meet the challenges of climate change and growing world population. Other contributions to the fund will be needed from different sources, including from the private sector.

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/82260/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/82260/icode/ Wed, 20 Jul 2011 22:00:00 GMT Ministers commit to review the world crop gene pool On the eve of a three-day meeting in Bali, Indonesia, Agriculture ministers and senior officials from more than 100 countries have agreed to review the world crop gene pool of the International Treaty on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and urged those countries who have not signed the farming biodiversity treaty to do so as soon as possible. 11 March 2011, Bali, Indonesia - Agriculture ministers and senior officials from more than 100 countries have committed to review the global crop gene pool of the International Treaty on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and urged those countries who have not signed the farming biodiversity treaty to do so as soon as possible.

The ministers paved the way forward on the eve of a meeting of the Treaty's Governing Body in Bali, Indonesia on March 14-18, adopting a lengthy declaration designed to steer the Treaty's future course to face food insecurity and climate change.

The Treaty, which came into force in 2004, creates a multilateral system through which member countries share the genetic material of 64 of the most important crops for food security - crops that account for over 80 percent of our plant-sourced food.

127 countries have already signed the Treaty with more signatures in the pipeline.

More tomatoes and more benefits?

Whilst wheat, rice and potatoes are included in the Treaty's gene pool, tomatoes were excluded ten years ago during the negotiations that lead to its adoption.

"The more efficiently crops are protected under the Treaty, the better humankind will be able to conserve and share crop genetic resources to meet the enormous food security challenges of the present and future generations," said Shakeel Bhatti, Secretary of the Treaty.

"Indonesia is a mega-biodiverse country and has always played a lead role in the Treaty and today it did so again showing that agriculture and environment can and must go along together," said Bhatti.

Today, the Multilateral System forms a gene pool of over 1.3 million unique crop samples. The Treaty has also has a benefit sharing fund by which farmers are supported in the conservation and use of genetic diversity on their own farms.

Climate dangers

Spain, Italy and Norway and Australia are the major donors to the Benefit-sharing Fund (BSF) set up by the Treaty to support poor farmers in developing countries in adapting their traditional crops to the changing environment.

In their declaration, ministers and senior officials also recognized that climate change poses a serious risk plant genetic resources that are essential" as a raw material for crop genetic improvement -whether by means of farmer selection, classical plant breeding or modern biotechnologies-" and also "in the development of new market opportunities, and in adapting to unpredictable environmental changes."

It is expected that in the course of this meeting countries would announce new investments to extend the number of activities and conservation projects supported worldwide as well as the number of people that benefit from it.]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/52635/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/52635/icode/ Thu, 10 Mar 2011 23:00:00 GMT Countries meet to boost Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources Senior representatives of more than 60 countries including 22 cabinet ministers have met in Rome as part of a new push to galvanize support behind the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources and its Benefit-sharing Fund, considered essential to conserve and utilize the world’s threatened plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. 8 December 2010, Rome Senior representatives of more than 60 countries including 22 cabinet ministers have met in Rome as part of a new push to galvanize support behind the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources and its Benefit-sharing Fund, considered essential to conserve and utilize the world's threatened plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

The meeting was opened by its governmental organizer, Italian Agriculture Minister Giancarlo Galan, who called on Governments to use the Treaty "to overcome the ancient and harmful clash between peasant agriculture and modernity".

He explained that the Treaty facilitates access to genetic material of plant species and pointed out that since the agreement took effect in 2004 there have been more than 800 daily transfers of seeds and other plant material from a pool of more than 1.3 million samples.

The Government of Italy, together with Spain and Norway and Australia, is one of the major donors to the Benefit-sharing Fund (BSF) set up by the Treaty to support poor farmers in developing countries in conserving and adapting to climate change the most important food crops.

Adaptation to climate change

"This high-level forum has made more evident that the Treaty is able to address simultaneously several challenges, including biodiversity loss, global food crises, climate change adaptation and poverty alleviation and agricultural development", said Shakeel Bhatti, Secretary of the International Treaty.

The Fund, operational since 2008/2009, has been accepted as a key international instrument for adaptation to climate change by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change while the Treaty has been recognized by the conference adopting the recent ground-breaking Nagoya Protocol as one of the four pillars of the new international regime on access and benefit-sharing for genetic resources.

So far, the Fund ("Leading the Field") is supporting 11 high-impact projects for small-scale farmers in four regions of the world. For example in Peru, six indigenous communities have responded to climate change by re-introducing old native varieties of potatoes, and adapting them to higher altitude mountain terrains.

In the next three months a further amount of US$ 10 million dollars will be devoted to help ensure sustainable food security by assisting farmers to adapt to climate change.

The Round Table also reiterated the need to work towards the target of raising $116 millions by 2014.

Dealing with crop diversity loss

The Treaty is the first fully operational international mechanism for access and benefit-sharing for any component of plant biological diversity and its ratification by 126 countries plus the EU represents the fastest pace of adhesion in the history of treaties and agreements negotiated under the aegis of FAO.

The Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources was conceived to facilitate international cooperation and the fair exchange of genetic resources.

FAO estimates that 75 percent of crop diversity was lost between 1900 and 2000. A recent study predicted that as much as 22 percent of the wild relatives of important food crops such as peanut, potato and beans could disappear by 2055 because of a changing climate.

On the positive side, awareness of the problem has been growing rapidly. There are now some 1 750 gene banks worldwide, which together hold more than seven million samples.]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/48559/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/48559/icode/ Tue, 07 Dec 2010 23:00:00 GMT Gardens of Biodiversity The Caucasian bee is just one of the actors of the rich biodiversity of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. One of the places in the world to practice agriculture, and home to many common foods, today the region offers hope for feeding the world in the future. 1 December 2010, Rome - As part of its contribution to the International Year of Biodiversity, FAO has published a book celebrating the richness of biodiversity for food and agriculture in the Southern Caucasus, birthplace of many common foods found on plates all over the world.

Comprising Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, the Southern Caucasus was one of the places where human beings first practised agriculture around 10 000 years ago and food crops such as wheat and grapes have their ancestral home in the region.

The Southern Caucasus has also been listed as the centre of origin of apples, apricots, pomegranates, pears and peas.

Small farms and gardens

Today, the area is still one of the world’s hotspots of biodiversity for food and agriculture. And the reason for this is largely thanks to the attachment to traditional food production systems by small farmers and local people who grow food in their gardens.

This diversity in food crops is mainly due to the climate – hot summers and cold winters – and to the mountains that provide differing degrees of shade and rainfall patterns. Entitled Gardens of Biodiversity, the FAO book contains hundreds of beautiful photographs documenting genetic resources, rural life and traditional food practices.

It also provides over 400 bibliographic references in seven different languages that have been used by the book’s contributors, including farmers, specialists in national research institutions and FAO staff in both the regional offices and headquarters.

Rich collections

The Southern Caucasus is well known for its diversity of endemic species and subspecies of cultivated and wild wheat. All three countries maintain rich collections in their national seed banks and scientists are constantly working on wheat selections of varieties with a good productive potential and pest resistance.

“We have to store germplasm in seed banks, but we also need farmers to preserve and use this genetic material in their day-to-day activities.

This book pays homage to that, and we hope it will help focus on the role of farmers in the Southern Caucasus and elsewhere in this important task,” said Caterina Batello, Senior FAO Officer and one of the book's authors.

The culinary ingenuity of the people has added to this rich mix with, for example, an extraordinary range of breads, which play an essential role in local food culture.

Livestock and bees

As well as plants, the Southern Caucasus are also home to important local breeds of cattle and sheep, such as Georgian mountain cattle, Megruli red cattle and Balbas, Mazekh and Bozakh sheep.

The region even has its own indigenous bee, the Caucasian honeybee, which because of its productivity is popular all over the world.

"The Southern Caucasus is a treasure trove of biodiversity that must not be lost. Only concrete action will ensure that present and future generations can continue to improve their food security and livelihoods. Today we must "wake-up" and engage in identifying, maintaining and using our genetic resources to meet the challenges of the future to feed a growing world population," said Batello.  ]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/48180/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/48180/icode/ Wed, 01 Dec 2010 09:00:00 GMT More countries taking action to safeguard animal genetic diversity A growing number of countries are taking steps to catalogue, conserve and better manage the genetic diversity of livestock in order to help safeguard the resilience of the world's food production systems, says an informal FAO survey released today. The UN agency cautioned, however, that much more needs to be done to better manage animal genetic resources. 24 November 2010, Rome - A growing number of countries are taking steps to catalogue, conserve and better manage the genetic diversity of livestock in order to help safeguard the resilience of the world's food production systems, says an informal FAO survey released today. FAO cautioned, however, that much more needs to be done to better manage animal genetic resources.

The signs of progress come three years after 191 countries adopted the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources following an FAO warning that one livestock breed had been lost per month during the 2000-2007 period and that 20 percent of all livestock breeds were at risk of extinction.

Since then, countries have begun to take action in line with the Global Plan (learn more).

In the policy arena, ten countries report that they have established and are implementing national strategies for managing animal genetic resources. Twenty eight more have either finalized strategies and are moving towards implementation or are in the midst of developing their plans.

FAO's survey also shows that a range of activities are being undertaken on the ground. Examples include:

• Belgium is in the midst of a major survey of sheep, cattle and pig breeds, an effort that will result in genetic samples selected for storage in cryobanks. Bolivia is involved in a similar effort for camelids, guinea pigs, cattle, sheep, goats and pigs.

• Kenya is including information on livestock holdings as part of its human population census and is preparing a national breed survey to gather additional information.

• Ghana is recruiting and training specialists in the characterization and conservation of indigenous breeds.

• China has granted 138 indigenous breeds protected status and has established 119 conservation farms and gene banks at the state level.

No cause for complacency

Still, FAO cautions that progress has not been consistent across all world regions and that much more needs to be done.

The Agency's latest report on the status and trends of animal genetic resources reports that 21% of livestock breeds continue to be at risk of extinction.

All told, some 1 710 breeds of livestock ranging from chickens to ostrich and from donkeys to cattle are in danger of extinction, compared to 1 649 in 2008 and 1 491 in 2006.

The report also warns that information on population size and composition of an estimated 35 percent of known mammalian and avian breeds are not known, a gap which poses "a serious constraint to effective prioritization and planning of breed conservation measures."

Genetic diversity key for resilience, productivity gains

"Like a well-balanced stock portfolio, genetic diversity makes food production more resilient in the face of threats like famine, drought, disease and the emerging challenge posed by climate change," said Irene Hoffmann, head of FAO's Animal Genetic Resources Programme.

The existing animal gene pool contains valuable, irreplaceable resources that will be vital for food security and agricultural development in the coming decades, she said.

"Climate change and the emergence of new and virulent livestock diseases highlight the importance of retaining the capacity to adapt our agricultural production systems. Cataloguing and conserving this diversity will allow us to maintain and deploy the widest possible portfolio of genetic resources in order to increase the resilience of our food supply and develop improved breeds to help sustain food production."

FAO has developed a funding strategy aimed at channelling support towards improved animal genetic resource management and strengthening international cooperation for assisting developing countries implement the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources.

To learn more about FAO's efforts to assist countries in the management of their animal genetic resources, click here.

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/47815/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/47815/icode/ Wed, 24 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT Crop biodiversity: use it or lose it FAO has launched the Second Report on the State of the World's Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, the definitive healthcheck on the biodiversity of crops. Much has changed since FAO published its last report twelve years ago, including an acceleration of climate change, making the conservation and the utilization of genetic resources even more pressing. 26 October 2010, Rome – The genetic diversity of the plants that we grow and eat and their “wild relatives” could be lost forever, threatening future food security, unless special efforts are stepped up to not only conserve but also utilize them, especially in developing countries.

This is one of the key messages of the second report on The State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, launched today by FAO.

The 350-page report, which covers everything from gene bank collections to the effects of climate change on crop diversity, is the definitive health check on what is being done to protect biodiversity in food and agriculture crops.

The loss of biodiversity will have a major impact on the ability of humankind to feed itself in the future, all nine billion of us by 2050, with the poorest in the world most affected.

Climate change

Genetic information held in certain crop varieties is crucial to the development of heat, drought, salinity, pests and diseases-resistant, fast-growing, high-yielding new varieties, necessary to combat food insecurity in the face of climate change.

“Increasing the sustainable use of plant diversity could be the main key for addressing risks to genetic resources for agriculture,” said Diouf.

“There are thousands of crop wild relatives that still need to be collected, studied and documented because they hold genetic secrets that enable them to resist heat, droughts, salinity, floods and pests.”

Fifty percent of the increase in crop yields in recent years has come from new seed varieties. Irrigation and fertilizer account for the other 50 percent. A recent good example is the fast-maturing New Rice for Africa (NERICA) that has transformed local economies in several parts of Africa.

Wild relatives

More needs to be done, especially at the level of the farmer’s field, generating local interest, and building capacities to conserve and use the genetic biodiversity that still exists.

It has been twelve years since the first State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture was published and in that time the global food landscape has changed drastically.

Hunger has been reduced in some countries, but has risen in others. Fuel and food prices have increased substantially. Globalization has widened and deepened, and cheap food imports in some countries have threatened the richness of local diversity.

Although the report does not attempt to quantify biodiversity loss, empirical evidence points to the continued extinction of crop biodiversity whittling away at the diversity of traditional food crops that survived the last century.

FAO estimates 75 percent of crop diversity was lost between 1900 and 2000. A recent study, highlighted in the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, predicts that as much as 22 percent of the wild relatives of important food crops of peanut, potato and beans will disappear by 2055 because of a changing climate.

Gene banks grow

On a more positive note, the report states that over the past twelve years, there has been an increase in awareness of the importance of protecting and utilizing the genetic diversity of food crops. Gene banks have increased in both size and the number.

There are now some 1 750 gene banks worldwide, with about 130 of them each holding more than 10 000 accessions. And in 2008, the ultimate back-up of global crop diversity, the Svalbald Global Seed Vault, opened in Norway.

Of the total 7.4 million samples conserved worldwide, national government gene banks conserve about 6.6 million, 45 percent of which is held in only seven countries, down from twelve countries in 1996.

This increasing concentration of collected and preserved genetic diversity in fewer countries and research centers highlights the importance of mechanisms to ensure facilitated access such as that provided by the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, of FAO.

The Treaty, now ratified by 125 nations, sets out a framework for compensating poor farmers for preserving different genetic crop varieties.

Investment neglect

The neglect in investment in agriculture since 1980 has inevitably led to a shortage of qualified agricultural scientists including plant-breeders, especially in developing countries, as young people, lacking incentives, turn their sights to more immediately profitable activities, the report says.

Huge advances have been made in biology and information technologies over the past twelve years; benefits from these need to be extended to improve use of agro-biodiversity with the ultimate aim of improving food security.

Many seed systems, the market or mechanism by which quality seeds are reproduced, tested and distributed, have also broken down. In the developed world, the seed sector is profitable enough to make it a viable business interest.

Unfortunately, this is not the case in poor countries where public entities are struggling to ensure good seeds for all farmers and access to new varieties.

A broader and better use of genetic resources and biodiversity in food crops will stimulate conservation. But adequate systems need to be in place to get new varieties into the hands of farmers both through the public sector and other players, the report found.

The United Nations has declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity.]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/46803/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/46803/icode/ Mon, 25 Oct 2010 22:00:00 GMT Italy donates to food gene pact Italy has announced a contribution of 1.2 million euros ($1.46 million) to compensate some of the world’s poorest farmers for conserving and propagating crop varieties that could prove to be the saviour of global food security over the coming decades. 21 May 2010, Rome – Italy has announced a contribution of 1.2 million euros to compensate some of the world’s poorest farmers for conserving and propagating crop varieties that could prove to be the saviour of global food security over the coming decades.

The contribution to a benefit-sharing scheme managed by the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture was announced on the eve of International Day of Biodiversity on May 22 which has as its theme: Biodiversity, Development and Poverty Alleviation.

The Treaty has its headquarters at FAO. The Italian donation follows on the heels of a $2.2 million donation made by Spain at the end of last year, and highlights the interest of many Mediterranean countries in the preservation of food crop diversity.

Mediterranean diet

Many of the foods we eat have their origins in the Mediterranean such as olives, oats, artichokes and dates, and Italy has preserved many varieties of vegetables only found in that country.

“The Mediterranean still has one of the richest food gene pools in the world and Italy, where even the kind of cauliflower you buy in the market can still vary from region to region, is very supportive of this issue,” said Shakeel Bhatti, Secretary of the Treaty.

“We are very grateful to Italy for its generous donation and other support it has given us.”

An essential part of the treaty is a benefit-sharing scheme that supports projects in the developing world such as one in Egypt to conserve rare varieties of citrus fruits.

There is another in Morocco to preserve wheat varieties that are resistant to the UG99 fungus, called stem rust. Some scientist have predicted UG99 could wipe out more than 80 percent of the world's wheat crops as it spreads from sub-Saharan Africa.

“Plant genetic diversity is crucial to confront the global challenges of food insecurity and climate change. Italy’s support for the Benefit-sharing Fund of the Treaty will promote a sustainable and diversified food basis of smallholder farmers in the developing world," said Shivaji Pandey, Director of FAO’s Plan Production and Protection Division.

64 food crops

The Treaty established a global pool comprised of 64 food crops that make up more than one million samples of known plant genetic resources.

The Treaty stipulates that whenever a commercial product results from the use of this gene pool and that product is patented, 1.1 percent of the sales of the product must be paid to the Treaty’s benefit-sharing fund.

Other countries to have contributed to the benefit-sharing scheme include Norway and Switzerland. The initiative is on track to raise $10 million this year and has already invested in eleven global projects aimed at smallholder farmers in developing countries.

The Ministry of Agricultural Food and Forestry policies and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs underlined in a joint statement that Italy has supported all aspects of the International Treaty since its inception.

By investing in the Treaty’s new Benefit-sharing Fund Italy is directly and positively addressing global biodiversity and agro-biodiversity for a sustainable management of the rural areas and natural resources also by supporting smallholder farmers preserve and use crop diversity in developing countries, the two Ministries said.

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/42570/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/42570/icode/ Fri, 21 May 2010 08:00:00 GMT Fighting climate change with grasslands According to a new FAO report, grasslands have vast untapped potential to mitigate climate change by absorbing and storing CO2. Pastures and rangelands represent a carbon sink that could be greater than forests if properly managed. 13 January 2010, Rome – Grasslands have vast untapped potential to mitigate climate change by absorbing and storing CO2, according to a new report by FAO. Pastures and rangelands represent a carbon sink that could be greater than forests if properly managed.

Covering some 30 percent of the earth’s ice-free land surface and accounting for 70 percent of its agricultural land, the world’s 3.4 billion ha of grasslands can also play a major role in supporting the adaptation and reducing the vulnerability to climate change of over one billion people who depend on livestock for a living, according to the paper Review of Evidence on Drylands Pastoral Systems and Climate Change.
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“The world will have to use all options to contain average global warming within 2 degrees Celsius. Agriculture and land use have the potential to help minimize net greenhouse gas emissions through specific practices, especially building soil and biomass carbon. These practices can at the same time increase the productivity and resilience of agriculture, thus contributing to food security and poverty reduction,” said FAO Assistant Director-General Alexander Müller.

Land degradation

Grazing lands are estimated to store 30 percent of the world’s soil carbon in addition to the substantial amount of above-ground carbon held in trees, bushes, shrubs and grasses. But they are particularly sensitive to land degradation, which affects some 70 percent of pastures as a result of overgrazing, salinization, acidification and other processes. Pressure on the land is also increasing in order to meet fast-growing demand for meat and dairy products.

Improved management practices restoring organic matter to grassland soils, reducing erosion and decreasing losses from burning and overgrazing can therefore help sequester large amounts of carbon – up to 1 billion tonnes a year according to some estimates. But this would require a vigorous and coordinated global effort and appropriate funding.

A more immediately feasible target would be to place 5-10 percent of global grazing lands under carbon sequestration management by 2020, which could store 184 million tonnes of carbon a year.

Socio-political and economic barriers need to be overcome too. They include land tenure, common property and privatization issues; competition from cropping; and lack of education and health services for mobile or nomadic pastoralists.

Drought defence

Increasing the amount of carbon sequestered in grasslands can help pastoralist populations adapt to climate change because the added carbon improves the soil’s water retention capacity and thus its ability to withstand drought.

Another consideration is safeguarding biodiversity. According to some estimates, the potential biodiversity of grasslands is only slightly less than that of forests. But there is also evidence that the number of animal and plant species and soil microorganisms resident in grazing lands is declining alarmingly through mismanagement, land use change and more recently climate change.

The report suggest that measures promoting improved grasslands management should include payment for environmental services (PES) which include both financial rewards and non-financial incentives such as capacity building and knowledge sharing. Increased access to existing development and funding mechanisms such as the Global Environment Facility should be made possible for efforts that contribute to sustainable use of grasslands and restoring their carbon storage potential.

Besides climate change mitigation, such efforts would also contribute to climate change adaptation and to the improved livelihoods of pastoral and agropastoral peoples.

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/38916/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/38916/icode/ Tue, 12 Jan 2010 23:00:00 GMT Reward for conserving crops Grants are to be awarded to on-farm seed conservation and development projects in Egypt, Kenya, Costa Rica, India, Peru, Senegal, Uruguay, Nicaragua, Cuba, Tanzania and Morocco. 2 June 2009, Rome/Tunis – Eleven developing countries that conserve food seeds and other genetic material from major crops will receive more than $500 000 to support their efforts according to an announcement made today in Tunis at a high-level meeting of the governing body of the International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources in Food and Agriculture.

Grants are to be awarded to projects in Egypt, Kenya, Costa Rica, India, Peru, Senegal, Uruguay, Nicaragua, Cuba, Tanzania and Morocco. It is the first time funds have become available under the benefit-sharing scheme of the Treaty, designed to compensate farmers in developing countries for their role in conserving crop varieties.

The projects were chosen from hundreds of applications and come on stream thanks to the generous donations of Norway, Italy, Spain and Switzerland in support of agriculture and food security.

The projects to be supported include: on-farm protection of citrus agro-biodiversity in Egypt, the genetic enhancement and revitalization of finger millet in Kenya and the conservation of indigenous potato varieties in Peru.

For a full list of projects supported click here.]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/20242/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/20242/icode/ Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT First fruits of plant gene pact Farmers in poor countries to receive compensation for conserving and propagating crop varieties as the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture meets. 1 June 2009, Rome/Tunis - For the first time, farmers in poor countries are to be rewarded under a binding international treaty for conserving and propagating crop varieties that could prove to be the saviour of global food security over the coming decades.

A new benefit-sharing scheme, part of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, is to come on stream thanks to the generous donations of several governments that will support five such farmers’ projects.

They will be announced at a meeting of the Treaty’s Governing Body is Tunis this week from more than 300 applications submitted by farmers, farmer’s organisations and research centres mainly from Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Food gene pool

It is the first time that financial benefits are being transferred under the Treaty which was agreed in 2004. The Treaty established a global pool comprised of 64 food crops that make up more than one million samples of known plant genetic resources.

The Treaty stipulates that whenever a commercial product results from the use of this gene pool and that product is patented, 1.1 percent of the sales of the product must be paid to the Treaty’s benefit-sharing fund.

The first batch of projects are to receive around $250 000. Norway, Italy, Spain and Switzerland have contributed the funds as seed money for the benefit-sharing scheme.

Ten year wait

Plant breeding is a slow process and it can take ten years or more for a patented product to emerge from the time the genetic transfer took place which is why the aforementioned governments have backed the scheme. Norway introduced a small tax on the sale of seeds on its domestic market to fund its donation.

The projects selected will have to fulfil a number of criteria that support poor farmers who conserve different seed varieties and reduce hunger in the world.

“We are grateful to the governments who have made voluntary contributions to make this possible,” said Dr Shakeel Bhatti, Secretary of the Treaty’s Governing Body.

“If farmers and other agricultural stakeholders don’t get any support in conserving and developing the different varieties, this crop diversity that they look after may be lost forever.

Diversity is key

No country is self-sufficient in plant genetic resources; all depend on genetic diversity in crops from other countries and regions. International cooperation and open exchange of genetic resources are therefore essential for food security.

Climate change has made this challenge even more pressing as there is a need to preserve all the crops developed over millennia that can resist cold winters or hot summers.

Yet, agricultural biodiversity, which is the basis for food production, is in sharp decline due the effects of modernization, changes in diets and increasing population density.

About three-quarters of the genetic diversity found in agricultural crops has been lost over the last century, and this genetic erosion continues.

It is estimated that there were once 10,000 types of food crops. Today, only 150 crops feed most of the world's population, and just 12 crops provide 80 percent of dietary energy from plants, with rice, wheat, maize, and potato alone providing almost 60 percent.

Hidden crops

Many new and unexploited varieties are found in some of the hardest to reach places in poor countries, where they have been traditionally grown by local farmers but never commercialized.

The real concern is that many crops that have developed resistance to hot summers and cold winters, or long periods of drought might be lost which is why the Treaty has made on-farm conservation one of its priorities.

$116 million appeal

Delegates to the meeting will seek agreement on ways to further speed up the benefit-sharing aspects of the Treaty. These might include an appeal from the Governing Body to governments, private donors and foundations for $116 million to strengthen the treaty’s work in helping developing countries grow better crops.

“While disagreements over access to crop genetic resources can involve highly technical issues and complex legal matters, the challenges are quite clear,” said Dr Bhatti.

“Crop breeders need wide access to genetic diversity in order to confront climatic change, fight plant pests or disease, and feed the world’s rapidly growing populations.”]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/20162/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/20162/icode/ Mon, 01 Jun 2009 08:00:00 GMT Older newsroom content As a result of upgrades to the FAO Media Centre, all news stories published prior to 11 September 2008 are located elsewhere on the FAO website. Below is a complete list of all historic FAO newsroom content.

As of September 2008, Newsroom stories are no longer separated into separate categories and can be found on the "News archive" page.

News releases & stories
2008 from 10 Sept. 2008 until 9 Sept. 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003	2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996

Focus on the issues (in-depth packages, discontinued 2007)
2008 2007 2006 2005 2004	2003 2002 1999-2001 1996-1998

Field stories (Reports from the field)
2008 2007 2006 2005	2004 2003 2002

News & highlights (discontinued in 2002)
2002 (until 15/04) 2001 2000 1999	1998 1997 1996

News briefs (discontinued in 2002)
2002 2001	2000 1999/1998

Global watch (discontinued in 2002)
2002 2001 2000 1999	1998 1997 1996

Fact File (discontinued in 2001)
1997-2001

]]> FAO-Newsroom@fao.org (FAO-Newsroom) http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/7592/icode/http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/7592/icode/ Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:00:00 GMT