22 July 2011: The 13th regular session of the Commission on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has agreed on a list of elements for a roadmap or work programme to take action on the roles and values of genetic resources for food and agriculture (GRFA) in terms of achieving food and nutritional security and enabling countries to plan and implement adaptation and mitigation strategies in the context of climate change and anticipated impacts of climate change on food and agricultural production now and in the future.

The elements suggested for a roadmap or work plan comprise: strategies and policies, including integrating climate-related activities in the Commission’s Global Plans of Action and awareness raising; tools and technologies, such as capacity building, guidelines for implementation of an ecosystem approach to biodiversity management in agricultural ecosystems, and information gathering on biodiversity hotspots under particular threat from climate change; guidance for forging partnerships; and elements for monitoring progress.

The Commission further requested its Secretary to prepare a roadmap based on these elements for consideration at CGRFA 14; and encouraged its members to consider information about the importance of including the management of GRFA in planning and implementing their national adaptation programmes of action (NAPAs) and nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMAs). CGRFA 13 was held from 18-22 July 2011, at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. [IISD RS Coverage of CGRFA 13] [CGRFA 13 Website]