Rwanda will host the Seventh Governing Body meeting of the International Treaty
04/07/2017
03 July 2017, Rome – Speaking during the 40th Session of the FAO Conference in Rome, Rwandan Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, H.E. Geraldine Mukeshimana announced that Rwanda will be hosting the Seventh Session of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in Kigali from 30 October – 03 November 2017.
“The FAO’s International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture is particularly well-placed to help us all move towards fulfilling a number of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals – particularly targets 2.5 and 15.6 with regard to promoting sustainable agriculture and to conserving and using the world’s food crop biodiversity,” said Minister Mukeshimana, speaking on behalf of the Rwandan Government.
The theme of the Seventh Session is ‘The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Role of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.’
“There are some critical issues to be discussed at the 7th Session of the Governing Body,” said Kent Nnadozie, Secretary (ad interim) of the International Treaty. “Two of those issues revolve around the possibility of expanding and enhancing the basket of crops exchanged through the Treaty’s Multilateral System, and the review of its Funding Strategy to provide a more reliable base of financial resources.”
Users from member countries have exchanged more than 4.1 million seeds and other resources belonging to food crops essential for human nutrition and well-being, but the inclusion of some key vegetables and other food-producing plants have yet to be agreed on.
Minister Mukeshimana reiterated Rwanda’s commitment to “working together towards the common goal of ending hunger,” citing the ongoing efforts to strengthen Rwanda’s fourth Strategic Plan for agriculture transformation to address issues of productivity, youth employment and climate change. The Strategic Plan will guide the update of the agriculture sector investment plan needed to fast track the zero hunger goal in Rwanda.
The Seventh Session of the Governing Body in Kigali will be preceded by two days of regional and inter-regional consultations and other special events on 28 and 29 October 2017.