Projets

Global policy support for biologically diverse, climate resilient agriculture

Photo: N. Palmer (CIAT)

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).