Global Plans of Action
The Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture negotiates global plans of action that seek to create an efficient system for the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources for food and agriculture. Global plans of action are outcomes of a country-driven process of reporting, analysis and discussion and are intended as comprehensive frameworks to guide and catalyse action at community, national, regional and international levels through better cooperation, coordination and planning and by strengthening capacities. They contain sets of recommendations and priority activities that respond to the needs and priorities identified in global assessments: the reports on the state of the world’s genetic resources for food and agriculture. Global plans of action are adopted by the relevant Governing Bodies of FAO, i.e. the FAO Conference or the FAO Council, or by special intergovernmental conferences convened at their request. The Commission oversees, monitors and evaluates the implementation of the global plans of action.
Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
This Global Plan of Action for the Conservation, Sustainable Use and Development of Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (GPA) was developed by FAO at the request of the members of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in response to the needs and challenges identified in the first global assessment of the status of Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (AqGR). It was developed following broad consultation with the regions and, following endorsement by the Commission, was formally adopted by FAO members at the 168th session of the FAO Council.The GPA is voluntary and non-binding and aims to promote effective management of AqGR ensuring that it makes a significant contribution to food security and sustainable development and to the alleviation of poverty and is targeted at all stakeholders in aquaculture, with a focus on resource managers and policy makers. The GPA has two parts, the first part introduces and sets the context for the importance of AqGR to sustainable aquaculture and future food security. The second part identifies strategic priorities and recommends actions under four priority areas: i) characterization, inventory and monitoring; ii) conservation and sustainable use; iii) development of AqGR for aquaculture; and iv) policies, institutions, capacity building and cooperation.
Forest Genetic Resources
The Global Plan of Action for the Conservation, Sustainable Use and Development of Forest Genetic Resources was agreed upon by the Commission at its Fourteenth Regular Session and adopted by the FAO Conference in 2013.Priority areas for action include: improving the availability of, and access to, information on forest genetic resources; in situ and ex situ conservation of forest genetic resources; sustainable use, development and management of forest genetic resources; and policies, institutions and capacity building.
Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
The Second Global Plan of Action for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture is a strategic framework for the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic diversity. It was adopted by the FAO Council in November 2011 and reaffirms the commitment of governments to the promotion of plant genetic resources as essential components of food security through sustainable agriculture in the face of climate change.The Second Global Plan of Action is a rolling action plan. It is based on the findings of The Second Report on the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and inputs from a series of regional consultations and from experts. It updates the Global Plan of Action for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, adopted in 1996 at the FAO International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources, for which the Commission had acted as preparatory committee. The rolling Global Plan of Action is a supporting component of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
In 2007, the International Technical Conference on Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, held in Interlaken, Switzerland, adopted the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources and the Interlaken Declaration. The outcomes of the Interlaken Conference were subsequently endorsed by the FAO Conference as a major contribution to the overall international framework on agricultural biodiversity. The FAO Conference requested the Commission to oversee and assess the implementation of the Global Plan of Action.The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity welcomed the Global Plan of Action and invited its Contracting Parties, other governments, indigenous and local communities, farmers, pastoralists, animal breeders, relevant organizations and other stakeholders to ensure its effective implementation (Decision IX/1).
The Global Plan of Action aims to provide a framework that supports and increases the effectiveness of national, regional and global efforts to sustainably use, develop and conserve animal genetic resources, to facilitate the mobilization of resources, including adequate financial resources, and to promote a pragmatic, systematic and efficient approach that harmoniously addresses the development of institutions, human resources and cooperative frameworks in animal genetic resources management.
In 2009, the Commission adopted the Funding Strategy for the implementation of the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources.
