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The Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture oversees and guides the preparation of global assessments of genetic resources for food and agriculture. In 1996, FAO launched The State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, and in 2007 published The State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
The Commission’s Multi-Year Programme of Work foresees updates of these reports and, in addition, global assessments of the state of the world’s forest and aquatic genetic resources. The first integrated global assessment of The State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture is foreseen for the Sixteenth Regular Session of the Commission.
The State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
In 1996, The State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture was received by 150 countries attending the Leipzig International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources. The Leipzig Conference welcomed the report as the first comprehensive worldwide assessment of the status and use of plant genetic resource conservation and use. The report was prepared through a participatory, country-driven process under the guidance of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture assesses the state of plant genetic diversity, and capacities at the local and global levels for in situ and ex situ management, conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources. The International Technical Conference also adopted the Global Plan of Action for the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture based on the analysis provided by the State of the World report.
In 1999, the Commission agreed that a second State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture should be prepared, and a review of the Global Plan of Action considered by the Commission after the completion of the negotiation of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Consideration of the draft up-dated State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture is foreseen for the Commission’s Twelfth Regular Session.
The State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
In 1999, the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture agreed that FAO should coordinate the preparation of The State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture was prepared through a participatory, country-driven process under the guidance of the Commission. By 2005, 169 countries had submitted country reports that, combined with reports from international organizations and input from scientists and experts provided the basis of The State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The report assessed the state of animal genetic resources, the state of management of animal genetic resources, and the state of capacities for the use, development and conservation of animal genetic resources. In 2007, the final report was presented to the International Technical Conference on Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, held in Interlaken, Switzerland and welcomed by the FAO Conference as the first worldwide assessment of the state of animal genetic resources. The Interlaken Conference also adopted a Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources based on the analysis provided by The State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
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