Special Event on Food Security and Genetic Diversity
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Fifteenth session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA 15) of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

The fifteenth session of the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA 15) opened on Monday, 19 January 2015, at the FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. Delegates met in plenary to consider cross-sectoral matters under the Commission’s Multi-Year Programme of Work (MYPOW), including: the preparation of the report on the State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture (SoW-BFA); targets and indicators for biodiversity for food and agriculture; access and benefit-sharing (ABS) for genetic resources for food and agriculture (GRFA); and biodiversity and nutrition.

CGRFA 15 delegates met in plenary throughout the day to consider cross-sectoral issues, including: the application of biotechnologies for the sustainable conservation and use of genetic resources for food and agriculture (GRFA); climate change and GRFA; biodiversity and nutrition; and access and benefit-sharing (ABS) with regard to GRFA. Delegates also discussed: animal GRFA, including preparation of the second Report on the State of the World’s Animal GRFA (SoW-AnGR), and implementation of the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources (GPA-AnGR); and forest GR, including follow-up to the GPA for the Conservation, Sustainable Use and Development of Forest GR (GPA-FGR).

CGRFA 15 delegates met in plenary throughout the day to consider: plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (GRFA), including the review of implementation of the second Global Plan of Action for Plant GRFA (GPA-PGR 2) and preparation of the third report on the State of the World’s Plant GRFA (SoW-PGR 3); aquatic genetic resources (AqGR), including preparation of the first SoW report on AqGR and the establishment of an Ad hoc Intergorvernmental Working Group (ITWG) on Aquatic GR; and micro-organisms and invertebrates. Delegates also considered the composition of ITWGs and reconsidered outstanding issues relating to ABS with regard to GRFA.

CGRFA 15 delegates met in plenary throughout the day to finalize discussions on aquatic genetic resources and the composition of intergovernmental technical working groups (ITWGs). They also considered the implementation of the Commission’s Multi-year Programme of Work (MYPOW), establishment of networks of national focal points to the Commission, cooperation with international instruments and organizations, the status of the Commission, and other business.

The CGRFA 15 closing plenary convened on Friday afternoon where delegates adopted the meeting's report and reflected on the meeting's deliberations, including its decisions. Delegates made numerous amendments to ensure that the report adequately reflects the outcome of the deliberations held during the week, including on access and benefit-sharing for GRFA, plant genetic resources and on micro-organisms and invertebrates.

In their closing statements, all regions praised the Chair and the Secretariat for a successful meeting. They reiterated that genetic resources are at the heart of sustainable development and efforts to combat hunger and malnutrition.

Chair Tahiri thanked all participants and gaveled the meeting to a close at 6:22pm.