13 February 2013: A three day Global Consultation, titled “Use and Management of Agrobiodiversity for Sustainable Food Security,” provided an opportunity for developing world stakeholders and international organizations to review the role of conservation in the use of agro-biodiversity for sustainable agricultural development.

The workshop was held from 12-14 February 2013 in New Delhi, India and included 55 international participants from 32 countries. Themes addressed included: on-going efforts to implement genetic resources conservation strategies at global, regional and national levels; genetic resources documentation and sharing mechanisms; identification of South-South cooperation opportunities for collaborative research, technology transfer and capacity building; and sharing of expertise for sustainable food production. Participants also reviewed the progress on implementation of international agreements, focusing on the implementation of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the Second Global Plan of Action of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO). They also reviewed global research initiatives and the agenda for the conservation and use of animals, fish, microorganisms and agriculturally important insects.

The workshop was organized by Bioversity International and the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) with support from the Secretariat of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, FAO and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA).

ICARDA and Bioversity International are members of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). [IISD RS Sources] [ICAR Press Release]