Emerging Issues in the Management of Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture: Towards A Multi-Year Programme of Work

On Saturday, 9 June 2007, in the lead up to the eleventh regular session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA-11), a special event was held at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) headquarters in Rome, Italy. The event, entitled "Emerging Issues in the Management of Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture: Towards a Multi-Year Programme of Work," offered delegates and observers an opportunity to engage in discussions with experts on issues related to the Commission's draft Multi-Year Programme of Work (MYPOW).

After Eng Siang Lim, Chair of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Malaysia), opened the session, participants watched a short film on the work of the Commission and listened to an introductory presentation on the draft MYPOW provided by Clive Stannard, Commission Secretariat. Two substantive sessions followed. The first concerned the status and challenges for genetic resources for food and agriculture. Experts on plant, animal, aquatic and forest genetic resources, and micro-organisms and insects, made observations on: status and needs of genetic resources for food agriculture; their value; major threats to genetic resources; interdependency of genetic resources; and likely future trends. The second session focused on cross-sectorial matters, with presentations and discussions on: applying the ecosystem approach; a typology of effects of transgene flow for biotechnology; and international cross-sectorial matters on genetic resources. In the case of both sessions, the presentations were followed by enthusiastic discussion among participants and presenters of the issues raised.

The well-attended special event appeared to finish on a positive note, with participants seemingly pleased to have heard from and consulted with experts, and with a general sense of anticipation about the week ahead pervading the halls of the FAO.