Biodiversity supports all life on Earth, including humans! Food and nutrition are among the top benefits derived from biodiversity, and thus its security is of great global concern. The Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) is the only permanent intergovernmental body focused on conserving all types of biodiversity for food and agriculture. The Commission, which consists of 179 Member States and the European Union, aims to promote international policies for the sustainable use and conservation of genetic resources for food and agriculture, while also ensuring that benefits derived from biodiversity are fairly and equitably shared.

The CGRFA meets regularly to address policies on genetic resources for food and agriculture.

The nineteenth session will focus on the state of the world’s forest and plant genetic resources, access and benefit-sharing policies, and biotechnologies for conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources. The Commission will also discuss:

• a Framework for Action on Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture;
• the role of genetic resources for food and agriculture in mitigation of and adaptation to climate change;
• microorganism and invertebrate genetic resources, including pollinator and biological control agents; and
• animal genetic resources.

The nineteenth session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture will be held at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, from 17 to 21 July 2023. This session will be preceded by a special event on 15 July 2023 to mark the Commission’s 40th anniversary.  

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) writers for this meeting are Wanja Nyingi, Ph.D., Daniel Bertram, Nicole Schabus, and Mika Schroder, Ph.D. The Photographer is Mike Muzurakis. The Editor is Pamela Chasek, Ph.D.