First Session of the Ad Hoc Expert Team on Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture

The First Session of the Ad Hoc Expert Team on Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture opened on 2 July 2024. The Expert Team was established by the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in 2023 to review issues related to biodiversity for food and agriculture (BFA) and advise and make recommendations to the Commission on these matters.

Ms Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General, stressed in her opening remarks the important role of biodiversity for agrifood systems and, in this context, recalled the Commission’s Framework for Action on Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture (FA BFA), endorsed by the FAO Council in 2021. She noted that work in this field is advancing and continues to contribute to the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM GBF). "FAO is stepping up its efforts to reduce the negative impact of agricultural practices on biodiversity, to promote sustainable agricultural practices and enhance, preserve and restore biodiversity as a whole", Ms Semedo said. 

Mr David Cooper, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), highlighted the important collaboration between the CBD and the Commission. He went on to underscore the importance of FAO’s contribution to furthering the objectives of the Convention, including by supporting the implementation of the KM GBF. He stressed that the future of biodiversity depends on how we manage agriculture and food systems and that implementing the KM GBF is vital to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 2, “Zero Hunger”.

Over the next few days, discussions of the Expert Team will address the implementation and monitoring of the FA BFA, including draft guidelines for its implementation.

The Expert Team will report to the Commission’s 20th Regular Session scheduled for 24 to 28 March 2025.

To read the meeting documents please click here

For photos from the meeting please click here