CBCGDF and UN FAO’s ITPGRFA | Work Together to Advance the Ratification of the International Treaty in China- 中国生物多样性保护与绿色发展基金会

News

CBCGDF and UN FAO’s ITPGRFA | Work Together to Advance the Ratification of the International Treaty in China

2019/10/27 15:52:00 本站

The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (hereinafter ITPGRFA or “International Treaty”) of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO) is a global attempt to promote the conservation and sustainable use of all plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of their use.

By July 2019, there are 146 contracting parties to the Treaty including the European Union. With its Multilateral System of Access of Benefit-Sharing in place, the ITPGRFA provides a platform that enables contracting parties to access plant diversity, and thus prepare them to address potential future food and nutrition security challenges.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China has recognized the importance of the ITPGRFA. In the meantime, the international voice has expressed a similar point of view. Back to the spring of 2019, in a seminar organized by China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) themed “Conservation and Benefit Sharing of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Focusing on Agricultural Biodiversity Beyond 2020”, on behalf of his colleagues, the FAO representative in China and DPR Korea Dr. Vincent Martin once expressed: “At FAO, we stand ready to continue working with China and member countries to promote multi-stakeholder, cross-sectoral and international cooperation in support of biodiversity conservation, including at genetic levels. Given the strong commitment from China, as well as China's growing international role, we would like to invite and encourage China to consider joining this enabling agreement of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.”

Mr. Kent Nnadozie, the Secretary of the International Treaty, was also invited by CBCGDF to attend this seminar. He delivered a keynote speech focused on the introduction and interpretation of the International Treaty, as well as China's current links. Before the seminar, CBCGDF was personally written by Mr. Nnadozie about the importance of building a possible platform for dialogue and cooperation under the CBCGDF’s proposal, and it would be very useful to organize the seminar as suggested.

China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) builds a platform for the exchange of biodiversity of genetic resources, bringing together leading experts, scholars and relevant departments in the fields of genetic resources, benefit-sharing, and environmental law to jointly promote the development of the biodiversity-related international rules on global environmental governance, genetic resources and so on. In November 2017, CBCGDF officially became an ITPGRFA observer for FAO. In February 2018, CBCGDF and ITPGRFA conducted in-depth discussions on issues of common interest such as the digital sequence of genetic resources. In the summer of 2018, CBCGDF communicated with FAO, and the efforts to promote a seminar were not stopped. In this regard, Mr. Nnadozie believes that the convening of the seminar will help policymakers and relevant officials to participate in the process of seeking recognition by China. He and his colleagues agreed that it is very important for China to join the "International Treaty" and cooperate to promote its purpose.

In the summer of 2019, CBCGDF organized another grand seminar successfully themed “The Mainstreaming of Agricultural Biodiversity and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)”. This meaningful meeting presented a collision of high-end expert ideas in the agricultural field, which enabled policymakers, the United Nations' FAO officials, experts and scholars from relevant research institutes, and key stakeholders to come together to participate in effective communication and dialogue on topics such as China's joining in ITPGRFA. biodiversity conservation in agriculture, the Fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nation's Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP15), which will be held in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China in 2020. They shared the objective and scientific expert opinions also help to promote the development of relevant policies and regulations to achieve the goal of sustainable agriculture and food security beyond 2020.

Accepted the invitation by CBCGDF again, Mr. Nnadozie came to Beijing to attend the seminar. He has repeatedly said that it is very important to build a platform for possible dialogue and collaboration under the advice of CBCGDF, and it is very useful to organize such a seminar according to the recommendations. He and his colleagues agree that it is important for China to join the International Treaty and work together to advance its mission. His colleague, Dr. Rene Castro, Assistant Director-General of FAO’s Climate, Biodiversity, Land and Water Department was also invited by CBCGDF to attend this seminar.

Dr. Castro delivered a keynote speech focused on the introduction and interpretation of the sustainable use of fisheries, water, and agriculture, as well as the huge impact of rising temperatures on human migration. He introduced the concept of "Beautiful China" and its origins, which he hopes will be integrated into ITPGRFA along with the sustainable use of fisheries, water resources, and agriculture. Furthermore, he mentioned that he and his colleagues agreed that it is very important for China to join the "International Treaty" and cooperate to promote its purpose, and he is very happy to be able to attend this seminar in person.

In the coming November, the Eighth Session of the Governing Body to the ITPGRFA will take place between 11^st and 16^th in Rome, Italy. In the background context above, CBCGDF has been invited to the meeting. Stay tuned for more outcomes will be produced from this remarkable event on CBCGDF’s various news platforms.

图片.png