Second Meeting of the Group of National Focal Points for Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture

Second Meeting of the Group of
National Focal Points for Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture

Tuesday, 2 March 2021

Opening remarks

Dr. QU Dongyu, Director-General FAO

As prepared

 

 

 

Dear Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

1.       We have a historic task at hand: formulating a global response to the crisis of biodiversity for food and agriculture.

2.       Biodiversity is essential for food security and food diversity, it underpins healthy and nutritious diets, improves rural livelihoods, and enhances the resilience of people and communities.

3.       Today’s key challenge is to meet the growing demand for food, feed, fuel and friendship while conserving biodiversity and reducing the pressure on natural resources and ecosystems.

Ladies and gentlemen,

4.       Over the coming three days, you will consider recommendation on joint action that is needed to promote the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity for food and agriculture.

5.       This includes the development of supporting policies, legal frameworks, institutions and capacities.

6.       And it requires all relevant stakeholders to take urgent action.

7.       The State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture clearly demonstrated that biodiversity is the essence of sustainable agri-food systems, vital to improving agricultural and food production and maintaining our planet’s resources and ecosystems.

8.       The report highlighted an alarming decline of biodiversity for food and agriculture, which is undermining the foundations of our agri-food systems.

9.       And it also showed that relying on an ever-narrowing group of foodstuffs threatens our health, well-being, and planetary wealth.

10.       Of some 6 000 plant species cultivated for food, less than 200 contribute substantially to global food output and just nine account for two-thirds of total crop production.

11.       This increases the vulnerability of agri-food systems for genetic utilization and possibility.

12.       But there is also positive news: Biodiversity-friendly practices are on the rise. There is compelling evidence suggesting that more and more action is being taken to safeguard biodiversity.

13.       We need to promote the use of biodiversity-friendly management practices in crop and livestock production, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture.

14.       This includes traditional management practices in situ associated with local and indigenous knowledge.

15.       We have to be innovative, create new solutions and find smarter ways to produce more with less input, while keeping in mind that there is no healthy foods without a healthy environment.

16.       Transforming our agri-food systems to become more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable is our common goal.  

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17.       The main task of your meeting is to finalize the policy response to the report on The State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture.

18.       Significant progress was made at your first meeting held in 2018, and now it is essential that this work be concluded.

19.       You will review the document Biodiversity for food and agriculture – revised draft needs and possible actions.

20.       The document will beconsidered by the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, with the motivation to have it adopted as a Global Plan of Action by the FAO Governing bodies.

21.       The policy response will be a key contribution of the food and agriculture sector to the Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

22.       To position FAO for better addressing crucial cross-sectoral challenges, such as climate change and biodiversity loss, I have established the Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment.

23.       This Office hosts, among other the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the International Treaty.

24.       One of the responsibilities of the Office is to lead the implementation of the FAO Strategy on Mainstreaming Biodiversity across Agricultural Sectors.

25.       We look forward to receiving your advice on the draft Action Plan for the implementation of the Mainstreaming Strategy.

26.       Both documents will complement and provide stimulus to the Global Biodiversity Framework and support Members to achieve better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life.

27.       I wish you professional deliberations, Thank you.