Global policy support for biologically diverse, climate resilient agriculture

Project description

The project supports the development and implementation of international policies and laws affecting the availability and use of genetic resources for climate-smart agriculture. Led by Bioversity International, the research team monitors and makes technical contributions to international meetings of several international bodies.

These bodies include: the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, the Conferences of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing, and intergovernmental and expert-working groups created to undertake intercessional work and negotiations.

In parallel, the team is conducting and supporting research on how best to implement international agreements in national and subnational contexts. For example, the project includes research on present and likely future dependence on genetic resources from abroad as a result of climatic changes. Such knowledge can be a valuable tool to garner national support for a global system for sharing genetic materials. The project works at international, regional and national levels.

Project researchers have been contributing to the Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Integration of Genetic Diversity into National Climate Change Adaptation Planning, endorsed by the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA).

Outcome Case Studies

2018

Kick starting MLS implementation for climate change adaptation in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda led to access to 400 accessions of MLS materials by 1000 farmers
2018

Towards a national network of community seedbanks in South Africa
2015
Nepalese government adopts two policies increasing availability and use of crop diversity for climate resilience
2015
Uganda adopts two policies to increase availability and use of PGR for climate change adaptation
2015
Two policy outcomes in Costa Rica for ensuring facilitated exchange of plant genetic resources
2016
Co-Chairs of international negotiations reflect CCAFS science in negotiating text (emerging outcome)
2016
New laws passed in Madagascar and Benin to enhance capacity to adapt to climate change
2016
Community seed banks begin to contribute to climate change adaptation in South Africa (emerging outcome)
2017

New laws passed in Madagascar and Benin to enhance capacity to adapt to climate change
2017
Implementing the ITPGRFA in Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Guatemala, Nepal, Rwanda and Uganda: highlights
2017
International negotiators adopt CCAFS recommendations in the process of developing a new international system of plant germplasm exchange
2018

New guidelines adopted in Madagascar and Benin in 2018 to implement laws passed in 2017
2018

Model community biocultural protocols developed to promote farmers’ as managers, providers and recipients of genetic materials and expertise for climate change adaptation’

Policies

National strategy for conservation of plant genetic resources in South Africa
Process of developing a new international system of plant germplasm exchange, as part of implementation of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture ITPGRFA.
National policies regarding the establishment and support of community seedbanks in Nepal
At the national level, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Guatemala, Nepal, Rwanda and Uganda adopted national policies and laws for implementing the ITPGRFA.
In Madagascar and Benin, new laws were passed to enhance capacity to adapt to climate change by implementing the ITPGRFA and the Nagoya protocol. [If this needs to be broken down further, please create a row for each - else report this as multicountr
Implementation guidelines approved in Benin and Madagascar to operationalize laws adopted in 2017 governing access and benefit sharing of plant genetic resources. National partners in the two countries developed guidelines for the day-to-day operation of
Two community biocultural protocols aimed at promoting farmers as managers, providers and recipients of genetic materials and developing expertise for climate change adaptation approved by municipal governments in Benin

Projets