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| FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture | |
|---|---|
| Name | Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture |
| Formation | 1983 |
| Type | Intergovernmental body |
| Headquarters | Rome |
| Parent organization | Food and Agriculture Organization |
| Region served | Global |
FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture is an intergovernmental forum convened to address the conservation, sustainable use and fair access and benefit-sharing of genetic resources for food security and agriculture. Established as a statutory advisory body within the Food and Agriculture Organization system, the Commission brings together Member Nations, technical experts and observers from Convention on Biological Diversity, World Trade Organization, World Health Organization, United Nations Environment Programme, and regional organizations to coordinate global action on genetic resources for crops, livestock, forestry, fisheries, and micro-organisms.
The Commission was established in 1983 under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organization to respond to growing international concern following the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment and later developments such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Rio Earth Summit. Its mandate evolved through key milestones including the adoption of the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources and the negotiation processes that led to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture; the Commission subsequently broadened scope to cover animal genetic resources, forest genetic resources, aquatic genetic resources, and microbial genetic resources. Parties such as United States, China, India, Brazil, and European Union members have used the Commission as a multilateral venue to reconcile positions arising from Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights discussions at the World Trade Organization and access and benefit-sharing debates under the Nagoya Protocol.
The Commission operates under the governance of the Food and Agriculture Organization Conference and reports to the FAO Council. Its membership includes all FAO Member Nations and invited observers from intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations such as IUCN, Global Crop Diversity Trust, and Bioversity International. Sessions are chaired by elected officers drawn from regional groups represented in the United Nations General Assembly system, and technical work is carried out by subsidiary bodies and ad hoc expert groups comprising specialists from institutions like the International Union for Conservation of Nature, CIRAD, CGIAR centers including International Rice Research Institute, CIMMYT, and Bioversity International. The Commission establishes working groups on specific sectors, for example the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Animal Genetic Resources and the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Plant Genetic Resources.
The Commission’s programme of work spans assessment, policy guidance, technical standards and reporting for plant genetic resources, animal genetic resources, forest genetic resources, aquatic genetic resources, and micro-organisms. It develops sectoral strategies that intersect with initiatives led by Food and Agriculture Organization, United Nations Development Programme, WorldFish, Global Environment Facility, and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Specific activities include preparation of inventories, development of genetic resource information systems linked to projects at FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, and guidance on on-farm conservation practices used by farmers associated with programs at International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture partners.
The Commission commissions and endorses flagship assessments including the State of the World reports on plant genetic resources, animal genetic resources, forest genetic resources, and aquatic genetic resources. These assessments synthesize data from national reports submitted by countries, contributions from research institutions such as FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Institute of Biodiversity Conservation, International Livestock Research Institute, and databases maintained by GRIN, GENESYS, and Domestic Animal Diversity Information System. The reports inform global policy fora including the United Nations General Assembly, Convention on Biological Diversity meetings, and donor deliberations at the Global Environment Facility.
Through negotiated guidance, voluntary standards and declarations, the Commission has shaped international instruments and influenced the implementation of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, policies related to access and benefit-sharing, and linkage to the Nagoya Protocol under the Convention on Biological Diversity. It provides technical inputs to World Trade Organization committees on Intellectual Property issues, advises United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change processes on genetic resource considerations, and supports harmonization with regional frameworks such as the African Union’s policy instruments and the European Union directives on genetic resource management.
The Commission promotes ex situ conservation in genebanks associated with Svalbard Global Seed Vault, CIMMYT collections, and national genebanks like those of Russia, Germany, United States, and China, as well as in situ and on-farm conservation efforts practiced by communities linked to Convention on Biological Diversity programs. It endorses best-practice standards for cryopreservation, living collections, and forage and tree seed conservation coordinated with International Center for Tropical Agriculture and supports breeding programs at International Potato Center and International Rice Research Institute to enhance resilience to pests, diseases and climate variability.
Capacity-building is delivered through partnerships with multilateral donors including the Global Environment Facility, development agencies such as United States Agency for International Development, research consortia including CGIAR and International Union for Conservation of Nature, and regional bodies like Association of Southeast Asian Nations and African Union. The Commission facilitates technical workshops, training courses, and the development of national strategies, helping countries implement reporting obligations and genetic resource policy frameworks coordinated with entities such as World Bank projects and national ministries of agriculture and environment.