Комисия on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture at FAO Marks 40 Years

The Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA), the only intergovernmental body that addresses all issues specifically related to biodiversity, food and agriculture, marked its 40th anniversary, and the importance of its work was highlighted during the Nineteenth Regular Session of the Commission (17–21 July) in Rome. With a total of 179 member countries, including the European Union, it leads the preparation of periodic global assessments of the status and trends in these areas.

“Achieving the 2030 Agenda and transforming global agrifood systems requires approaches that ensure the sustainable use, conservation and restoration of biodiversity for food and agriculture,” emphasized QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), at the meeting. Qu explained that genetic resources for food and agriculture, as well as all components of biodiversity, are fundamental to achieving this transformation.

During the five-day session, attended by over 350 delegates and observers, the Commission reviewed the role of genetic resources for food and agriculture in mitigating and adapting to climate change, as well as other cross-sectoral issues related to biodiversity, nutrition and human health.

“Over the last two years since the previous session of the Commission in 2021, important steps have been taken in anchoring biodiversity in the global agenda,” said Qu.

The Director-General referred to the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in 2022, which consists of global goals for the conservation of biodiversity by 2030, and the FAO Strategy on Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture, approved by the FAO Council in December 2021.

During the Nineteenth Regular Session, the Commission considered the FAO Strategy on Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture as part of its agenda and presented two important reports related to the status of the world’s plant and forest genetic resources.

Forty years of history

Established in 1983, the Commission, as a global forum, aims to achieve international consensus on policies for the sustainable use and conservation of genetic resources for food and agriculture and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their utilization.

With 179 member countries, including the European Union, the intergovernmental body leads the preparation of periodic global assessments of the status and trends of genetic resources and biodiversity for food and agriculture and develops global plans of action, codes of conduct or other policy instruments, and monitors their implementation.

Some of the notable achievements of the Commission include: the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA); country-driven global assessments of biodiversity, and of plant, animal, forest and aquatic genetic resources; global plans of action for plant, animal, forest and aquatic genetic resources; numerous policy and technical guidelines; and global information and monitoring systems that provide information on the status and management of genetic resources in countries.

© Agricultural Academy

Agricultural Academy at the Nineteenth Session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) of FAO

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Katya Uzundzhalieva – Director of the Institute of Plant Genetic Resources "K. Malkov" – Sadovo and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elitsa Petrova – Director of the Institute of Fish Resources – Varna, as representatives of the Agricultural Academy, are participating in the Nineteenth Regular Session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) of FAO, 17–21 July in Rome. During the event, a meeting was held with Mr. Ivo Muskurow – Permanent Representative of Bulgaria to FAO, at which the opportunities and steps for a more active representation of the Agricultural Academy in the Organization were discussed.