Recently, at the invitation of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF), Dr. Rene Castro, United Nations FAOs Assistant Director-General of Climate, Biodiversity, Land and Water Department and Mr. Kent Nnadozie, the Secretary of FAO’s International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) came to Beijing for attending an academic seminar on the theme of “The Mainstreaming of Agricultural Biodiversity and ITPGRFA”. During the meeting with the Secretary-General of CBCGDF Dr. Zhou Jinfeng, the two sides discussed on the global dynamics and current state of prevention of the Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), one of the top ten pests in the world that invaded China in January this year.

CBCGDF representative introduced the mainstream treatment plan that has been targeted since the invasive pest was discovered in Yunnan Province in China this January, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs’ proposal at the meeting on prevention and control of Fall Armyworm (FAW) in May, that advised on the combination of prevention and biological and chemical control; a video conference on the implementation of FAW prevention and control work in June, and a series of conferences; the status of the concepts of prevention and observation, such as the role of biodiversity, and the multi-initiative to mitigate pests and diseases, presented in a series of conferences; CBCGDF’s  observations on this matter, as well as the latest genetic research, and some local innovation measures and other information.

Dr. Castro expressed his appreciation for CBCGDF’s commitment to innovation and its tireless appeal. He believes that the mainstreaming of agricultural biodiversity is very important and requires synergy across sectors. He also introduced the latest work progress of the UN FAO in this field and encouraged CBCGDF to continue to promote the biodiversity prevention and control of FAW. It is expected to share more views and experiences with CBCGDF in the future and share the best practices of nature-based solutions from China that CBCGDF has observed.

(Photo credit: CBCGDF)

FAW (Photo credit: FAO)

Original Chinese article:

http://www.cbcgdf.org/NewsShow/4937/9282.html

By / Wang Yanqing Modified / Niu Jingmei