At its Eighteenth Regular Session, the Commission endorses the Framework for Action on Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture, which identifies needs and possible actions for biodiversity for food and agriculture (BFA). While making reference to all the sectoral Global Plans of Action, the Framework aims to address the management of BFA as a whole and to promote coordinated action across all the sectors of food and agriculture and – more widely – to improve the sustainable use and conservation of BFA at genetic, species and ecosystem levels. The 168th Session of the FAO Council adopts the Framework.

The Second Meeting of the Group of National Focal Points for Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture takes place in two parts and further reviews and revises draft needs and possible actions for the conservation and sustainable use of BFA. It also welcomes the FAO Strategy on Mainstreaming Biodiversity across Agricultural Sectors and provides inputs to the development of the 2021−23 Action Plan for the Implementation of the FAO Strategy on Mainstreaming Biodiversity across Agricultural Sectors.

FAO launches The State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture. Prepared through a participatory, country-driven process under the guidance of the Commission, the report draws on 91 country reports to provide a description of the roles and importance of biodiversity for food and agriculture, the drivers of change affecting it, and its current status and trends. It describes the state of efforts to promote the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity for food and agriculture, including through the development of supporting policies, legal frameworks, institutions and capacities. It concludes with a discussion of needs and challenges in the future management of biodiversity for food and agriculture.

The First Meeting of the Group of National Focal Points for Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture reviews and revises draft needs and possible actions for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity for food and agriculture.

A series of informal regional consultations are held as part of the preparation of The State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture with the objective of discussing needs and priorities for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity for food and agriculture in the respective regions. Regional synthesis reports are prepared that consolidate the outcomes of the consultations and recommendations from the country reports, and identify regional needs and priorities for action.

FAO invites countries to prepare country reports to support the preparation of The State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture.

The Commission, at its Thirteenth Regular Session, reviews plans for the preparation of The State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture.

At its Eleventh Regular Session, the Commission agrees that its Multi-year Programme of Work should include work on biodiversity for food and agriculture, including the eventual preparation of a report on The State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture.

FAO Conference adopts Resolution 3/95 The Broadening of the Mandate of the FAO Commission on Plant Genetic Resources to Cover Genetic Resources Relevant to Food and Agriculture, which extends the Commission’s mandate to cover “all components of biodiversity of relevance to food and agriculture.”