Background

The Secretary of the International Treaty, with the support of the Kingdom of Morocco and in collaboration with the Global Crop Diversity Trust, convened an international panel with high-level experts to discuss the current and potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the conservation and use of plant genetic resources for food security and sustainable agriculture. The panel followed a survey conducted by the Secretariat

Scope of the panel

During the panel, participants shared information and views, and identified needs and actions by National Focal Points and other stakeholders in the International Treaty. In particular, the panel discussed how to mobilize the resources and mechanisms of the International Treaty to adapt to the COVID-19 realities as well as the alignment of the International Treaty with FAO’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Programme. 

Please click here to view the full agenda.

Please click here for the full recording (Password: GTR88P+1)

Links to the presentations:

• Presentation of survey results on the impact of COVID-19 on the International Treaty
• Lise Lykke Steffensen, Executive Director, Nordic Genetic Resource Center (NordGen)
• Csaba Gaspar, Sophia Gnych, OECD Forest Seed and Plant Scheme
• Shawn Mcguire, Officer (Seed Security), FAO’s Plant Production and Protection Division
• Johnathan Shoham, Senior Consultant Analyst, IHS Markit