Rome, Italy
November 14, 2023

Making sure that the world’s plant genetic resources most important to human diets are safeguarded and accessible around the world is the key focus of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The 10th Session of the Treaty’s Governing Body  will discuss the crucial task of making sure this binding agreement, with its secretariat based at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) keeps up with the changes brought by factors such as the impacts of the climate crisis and our evolving needs. A central theme will be how seeds can provide innovative solutions to the sustainable transformation of our agrifood systems and safeguarding biodiversity.

An annex of the agreement adopted in 2001, lists 64 of the key crops that make up our “food basket”. Informed by a report recently published by the Treaty, called The Plants that Feed the World,  among the issues the meeting will consider is whether this list needs updating to take in a greater number of crops. This report will be presented at a side event on Wednesday 22 November, which media can attend in person by registering for accreditation. (This also applies to other side events.)

Among the trends highlighted in the report are: the changing definition of food security, an increased role for plant-based proteins; countries becoming more interdependent on each other for crop varieties and tastes and fashions changing the demand for crops.

On Monday 20 November, the Opening session of the Governing Body will start with remarks by FAO Director-General QU Dongyu (video message). Media will be able to follow the session via webcast here.

A Special Event at 17:45 (CET) will bring together key stakeholders for agricultural biodiversity management to discuss linkages and synergies between the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the International Treaty. Speakers will discuss innovative ideas for enhancing conservation of plant diversity, promoting sustainable agriculture and joint efforts to achieve a more food-secure and resilient future.

The interactive discussion will be moderated by renowned journalist and author, Dan Saladino and will also be web-streamed live.

Panelists:

• David Cooper, Acting Exec Secretary, Commission on Biological Diversity
• Alwin Kopse, Deputy Assistant Director-General, Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture
• Lorna E. Herradura, Center Chief, National Crop Research Development and Production Support Center, Bureau of Plant Industry, the Philippines
• Éliane Ubalijoro, Chief Executive Officer of the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), and Director General of ICRAF      
• Hervé Barois, Senior Technical Advisor, Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN)     
• Lydia Kekeli Amenyaglo, Ghana Food Movement          

Website: http://www.fao.org

Published: November 15, 2023