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Context

• Delegates from across the world have gathered at the 19th session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) in Rome, Italy.

Details

• During the five-day session, from July 17-21, delegates and observers will deliberate on three matters: A review of work on biodiversity, nutrition, and human health; access and benefit-sharing for food and agriculture; and digital sequence information for food and agriculture.
• The meeting is taking place at the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) headquarters in Rome.
• Over the next few days, delegates will discuss biodiversity for food and agriculture; the role of genetic resources for food and agriculture in mitigation of and adaptation to climate change; forest genetic resources; microorganism and invertebrate genetic resources, including pollinator and biological control agents; and animal genetic resources.

Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA)

• The Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is an intergovernmental body that addresses issues specifically related to the management of biodiversity of relevance to food and agriculture.
• It was established in 1983 as the Commission on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
• In 1995, the mandate of the Commission was extended to cover all components of biodiversity for food and agriculture and its name was changed to its current version. Its membership comprises 179 countries and the European Union.
• The Commission’s activities include overseeing global assessments of biodiversity and genetic resources used in the various sectors of food and agriculture and developing international policy instruments related to the management of these resources.
• Membership of the Commission is open to all members and associate members of FAO.
• CGRFA is the only permanent intergovernmental body that deals with all components of biodiversity for food and agriculture.
• Other than working on the diversity of domesticated crops, livestock and farmed fish and aquatic invertebrates, forest trees and aquatic species, the commission also covers the diversity of all the non-domesticated species that enable production to occur. These include pollinators, soil-dwelling organisms, the natural enemies of pests and the microorganisms that enable ruminant animals to digest their food.

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