In the context of the implementation of the project “Coherent Food Security Responses: Incorporating Right to Food into Global and Regional Food Security Initiatives” and in collaboration with other projects within FAO, a multi-stakeholder side event on “Realizing The Right to Food: Sustainable Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Nutrition Security” took place at the Bali International Convention Centre in Bali, Indonesia on 15 March 2011 during the Fourth Regular Session of Governing Body (GB4) of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA). The event was sponsored by the Spanish Government and organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in close collaboration with Secretariat of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The meeting was convened jointly by the Partnerships with Civil Society and Private Sector Branch, the Nutrition and Consumer Protection Division and the Right to Food, Agricultural Development Economics Division of FAO. The meeting was chaired by Professor José Esquinas-Alcázar, Director of the Chair of Studies on Hunger and Poverty, University of Córdoba, Spain.

The side event has provided an opportunity to raise awareness and build consensus among the participants on the value and the contribution of plant genetic resources to dietary diversity, health and nutrition in the context of the realization of the right to food by sharing experiences and lessons learned for effective policy and program planning as well as for evidence based research.

From a national and regional perspective, representatives from the Governments of Bhutan and Bolivia and representatives from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the European Union presented their policies, strategies, plans and programs for the conservation and sustainable use of diversity of crops for food and nutrition security from a human rights-based approach. Representatives from farmers’ organizations, private sector and research institutions presented their views, challenges and recommendations in achieving food and nutrition security in the context of the right to food.