On July 10th, a seminar themed “The Mainstreaming of Agricultural Biodiversity and ITPGRFA (United Nations FAO International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture) organized by China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) ended in Beijing successfully. The heavyweight international guests attending the Seminar include Dr. Rene Castro, Assistant Director-General of FAO’s Climate, Biodiversity, Land and Water Department, and Mr. Kent Nandozie, the Secretary of the International Treaty (ITPGRFA).
According to the International Treaty, the Secretary of the Governing Body shall be appointed by the Director-General of FAO, with the approval of the Governing Body. The Secretary shall be assisted by such staff as may be required. The Secretary shall arrange for and provide administrative support for sessions of the Governing Body and for any subsidiary bodies as may be established; assist the Governing Body in carrying out its function, including the performance of specific tasks that the Governing Body may decide to assign to it; report on its activities to the Governing Body. The Secretary shall cooperate with other organizations and treaty bodies, including in particular the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, in achieving the objectives of this Treaty.
It’s the second time of Mr. Nnadozie to accept the invitation of CBCGDF and come to Beijing to attend the Seminar organized by CBCGDF to participate in academic exchanges and meetings on issues related to China’s joining ITPGRFA. Mr. Nnadozie 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.
At the March seminar, Mr. Natto's main purpose was to give an in-depth introduction and interpretation of the International Treaty. At this seminar, his keynote report was more succinct and inspiring, and the title was called "Taking Care of the Plants that Feed the World." First, he introduces a global situation – why the world needs an international and multilateral approach to better protect our ecological environment, which is based on a combination of political, economic, climate change and biodiversity considerations for the background.
Of the 7,000 species of agriculture used in the world so far, only 150 are used for extensive planting, and this variety of crops, and even people's food varieties tend to be single, it is very unfavorable for human quality of life and biodiversity.
No country in the world is self-sufficient in food – the goal of the International Treaty, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, is to provide an international framework for the protection and promotion of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. Sustainable use and benefit sharing is sustainable and equitable. Only when more countries join the International Treaty can it truly become a treaty of globalization.
The future of agriculture will also go digital. Need to consider the Global Biodiversity Framework after 2020, 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, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The International Treaty is to contribute to these propositions related to the future of mankind and to realize the benefit-sharing of information under a global framework. A global framework currently under negotiation, the world hopes to be finalized in the CBD COP15. China is needed to be able to fully participate in the process of this negotiation.
Another factor is the impact of global climate change – no country can be immune to it, and only exchanges between countries, including plant genetic resources for exchange and benefit-sharing, can achieve development and prosperity. Each country has a different national situation, and the International Treaty is Public Good, which makes Parties aware of their responsibilities to predecessors and future generations in maintaining the diversity of the world's plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.
The Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts of this Treaty are equally authentic.
In particular, Mr. Kent Nnadozie’s keynote presentation is shared here for readers.
(Photo credit: Kent Nnadozie, please indicate the source.)
(Photo credit: CBCGDF, please indicate the source.)
Dr. Zhou Jinfeng, the Secretary-General of CBCGDF (right) exchanged with Dr. Rene Castro and Mr. Kent Nnadozie.
(Photo credit: CBCGDF)
Original Chinese article:
http://www.cbcgdf.org/NewsShow/4937/9297.html
By / Niu Jingmei