Asia and the Pacific Region reviews Second Global Plan of Action for Plant Genetic Resources
Bangkok 23 July 2024. A regional consultation to gather perspectives and inputs for reviewing the Second Global Plan of Action for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture started today in Bangkok, Thailand. About 40 participants from the Asia and the Pacific region including National Focal Points for Plant Genetic Resources to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and to the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, have met to discuss current priorities for the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources or food and agriculture.
The consultation was opened by Ms Hang Thi Thanh Pham, Officer-in-Charge, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, who highlighted the many challenges food production systems face in the Region, including climate change, population growth, conflicts and migration. She stressed the key contribution crop diversity can make to cope with these challenges.
The review of the Second Global Plan of Action is carried out in response to the findings of The Third Report on the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, a first draft of which was launched in July of last year on the occasion of the 19th Regular Session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The periodical reports on the state of the world’s plant genetic resources and the rolling global plan of action which are prepared under the guidance of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and support the implementation of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
The regional consultation is part of the on-going collaboration between the Commission and the Governing of the International Treaty in the finalization of the Third Report and the review of the Second Global Plan of Action on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, as highlighted by Stefano Diulgheroff, Secretariat of FAO’s Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, and Mario Marino, Secretariat of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
The regional consultation is co-organized by FAO, the Commission, the International Treaty, and the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions. It is also attended by experts from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics and APAARI.