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Celebration
of the commission’s 20th anniversary
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Hamdallah Zedan, Executive Secretary of the Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD), highlighted examples of
interaction between the CBD and the CGRFA.
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FAO Deputy Director
General, David Harcharik, opened
the celebration of the Commission’s 20th Anniversary and
drew attention
to the Commission’s achievements and future challenges in
biodiversity conservation for sustainable development.
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Panama, on behalf of G-77, expressed appreciation for the
Commission’s work. Above photo: Horacio J. Maltez
(Panama)
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Emile
Frison, Director General of the International Plant
Genetic Resource Institute (IPGRI), on behalf of the
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR),
highlighted the establishment of the Global Crop Diversity
Trust.
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The
Netherlands, on behalf of European Union, highlighted the
Commission’s achievements, including the Global Plan of
Action (GPA) and the ITPGR. Above photo: Hans Hoogeven
(The Netherlands on Behalf of the European Union)
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The SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY (SADC) outlined its
regional programme for conservation of plant genetic
resources, and expressed hope to provide assistance in
implementing the ITPGR and the GPA. Above photo: Godfrey
Patrick Mwila (SDC)
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The
ETC Group welcomed the establishment of international gene
banks and of the Global Crop Biodiversity Trust. Above photo: Pat
Mooney (ETC Action Group)
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Above photo: Hans Hoogeven, The Netherlands
congratulates David
Harcharik, FAO Deputy Director General and Jose
Esquinas, CGRFA Secretary on
the Commission's 20th Anniversay.
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Cgrfa-10
opening session:
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Louise Fresco, FAO’s Assistant Director General for
Agriculture, highlighted the need to lay the basis for
CGRFA’s future work.
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CGRFA-9
Chair Robert Bertram (US) opened the session and
presided over the nomination of the CGRFA-10 Chair. |
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Eng-Siang
Lim (Malaysia) was elected to Chair CGRFA-10
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Above photo: João Miguel Lomelino de Freitas nominated
three Vice-Chairs on behalf of the OECD Group.
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PLANT
GENETIC RESOURCES
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Chair Lim drew attention to the report of the second
session of the International Technical Working Group on PGRFA
(ITWG-PGR) and noted the follow-up to the recommendations on
certain elements of the Global System and the progress report
in preparation of the second report on the State of the
World’s PGRFA. Above photo: Chair Lim in discussion
with Grethe Evjen (Norway)
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CANADA proposed that the secretariats of the CGRFA and the
Governing Body provide views on collaboration. Above photo: Campbell
Davidson (Canada)
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AUSTRALIA
cautioned against arduous reporting burdens and duplication
with other organizations’ work. Above photo: Bill Roberts
(Australia)
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ANGOLA expressed concern about diminishing support for
agricultural research and declining capacities to utilize
genetic resources for food security in poor countries, and
prioritized thematic studies in this regard. Elizabeth
Matos (Angola)
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The
US suggested that the objective of the facilitating mechanism
be to facilitate the GPA’s implementation through technical
and financial measures. Above photo: Peter Bretting
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NORWAY
highlighted inadequate efforts for the restoration of genetic
material lost during disasters. Above photo: Grethe Evjen
(Norway) |
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IPGRI
regretted that NGO's and farmers' groups could not attend a
recent meeting of its Genetic Resources Policy Committee.
Above photo: Cary Fowler (CGIAR)
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Amb. Fernando Gerbasi (above), Chair of the Trust’s
Interim Panel of Eminent Experts, indicated that 17 regional
and sub-regional funding strategies have been developed and
will be implemented starting in late 2004-2005.
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SIDE EVENT:
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SATELLITE EVENT ON
“MAINSTREAMING AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY FOR FOOD SECURITY”
The FAO
Inter-Departmental Working Group on Biological Diversity for Food
and Agriculture organizes three sessions on “Mainstreaming
Agricultural Biodiversity for Food Security,” from Monday to
Wednesday, 8-10 November. The event aims to explore different
emerging issues relating to biodiversity and food security, and
outcomes will be reported to the Commission on Thursday, 11
November.
On Monday, 8
November, a session was held under the theme “Integrated
agro-ecological approaches and community-based adaptive
management.”
A series of
presentations addressed: the ecosystem approach in capture
fisheries; integrated pest management; and community-based
management of animal genetic resources.
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