On March 4th, 2019, a Seminar themed on “Conservation and Benefit Sharing of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Focusing on Agricultural Biodiversity After 2020” co-organized by China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) and Beijing Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (BAAFS) was held successfully in Beijing. This event brought together the relevant departments’ leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the head of CBCGDF, as well as experts’ representatives from various universities and research institutes. Dr. Vincent Martin, the representative of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in China and DPR Korea and Mr. Kent Nnadozie, the Secretary of FAO International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) attended the Seminar and delivered keynote speeches.
The seminar has carried out various effective academic exchanges and discussions on promoting the protection and benefit sharing of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture in China, promoting agricultural ecological security and biodiversity conservation in China, and effectively participating in global environmental governance. The guests from various fields also made suggestions on 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. To this end, it is planned to hold a special meeting this summer to discuss China's participation in the specific technical areas of ITPGRFA, as well as a sub-forum on the theme of agriculture and biodiversity conservation during CBD COP15.
Time flied to the summer, following up the seminar on March 4th, it is scheduled to hold another important Seminar on July 10th in Beijing, organized by China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF). It is aims to further promote the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture in China, contribute to China’s agro-ecological security and biodiversity conservation, and promote China’s accession to ITPGRFA. The theme of this Seminar is “The Mainstreaming of Agricultural Biodiversity and ITPGRFA”.
The foundation of this Seminar will not only be the latest and most cutting-edge information on the sharing of agricultural genetic resources at home and abroad, but also the collision of high-end experts in the agricultural field. It establishes an important communication platform for the protection of plant genetic resources. Through this effective platform, people from all over the world will seek more international cooperation and more interoperability and dialogue. It will also promote the development of relevant policies and regulations to achieve the goal of sustainable agriculture and food security beyond 2020.
Mr. Kent Nnadozie, the Secretary of ITPGRFA is pleased to come to Beijing again to attend this event. He pointed out that the possible dialogue and cooperation platform built by CBCGDF is very important, and it is very useful to organize the seminar according to the recommendations. He believes this will help policy makers 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 ITPGRFA and work together to promote its purpose. Dr. Rene Castro, FAOs Climate, Biodiversity, Land and Water Department Assistant-Director General, a highly respected colleague of Mr. Nnadozie, missed the event on March 4th, but has confirmed his attendance on July 10th. His words to CBCGDF “Dear friends, thank you for your invitation. We are preparing to cooperate with you and visit the beautiful China” will become true.
The guests who have confirmed the attendance of the Seminar also include experts from relevant government departments, experts and scholars from relevant universities and research institutes, representatives of major stakeholders, representatives of international organizations and media representatives. In the context of academic discussions, people will gather to conduct in-depth exchanges and discussions on issues such as the feasibility of China's participation in ITPGRFA, and present objective and scientific expert opinions.
As FAO officials have expressed: “We would like to invite and encourage China consider joining ITPGRFA.” Welcome to pay attention to the various CBCGDF media platforms to follow the details of the Seminar that will kick off soon. More fresh content will be presented on after another.
(Photo credit: FAO)
Dr. Rene Castro (first from left) with Mr. Kent Nnadozie (middle) (Photo credit: FAO News)
The scene of the March 4 seminar (Photo credit: CBCGDF)
The Secretary-General of CBCGDF Dr. Zhou Jinfeng exchanged with Mr. Kent Nnadozie on the March 4 seminar. (Photo credit: CBCGDF)
Mr. Kent Nnadozie introduced ITPGRFA on the March 4 seminar. (Photo credit: CBCGDF)
(Photo credit: CBCGDF)
By / Niu Jingmei