Rome, Italy
May 19, 2008
“Our planet abounds with
biological richness and this great diversity is key to face the
worst food crisis in modern history,”
FAO Assistant Director-General
Alexander Müller said.
FAO acknowledges the importance of biodiversity to food security
but also raises an alarm. It estimates that about three-quarters
of the varietal genetic diversity of agricultural crops have
been lost over the last century and that hundreds of the 7000
animal breeds registered in its databases are threatened by
extinction.
Just twelve crops and fourteen animal species now provide most
of the world’s food. Fewer genetic diversity means fewer
opportunities for the growth and innovation needed to boost
agriculture at a time of soaring food prices.
Furthermore, as biodiversity used in food and agriculture
declines, the food supply becomes more vulnerable and
unsustainable. Agriculture becomes less able to adapt to
environmental challenges, such as climate change or water
scarcity.
Mr. Müller, who heads FAO’s Natural Resources Management and
Environment Department, also said: “The erosion of biodiversity
for food and agriculture severely compromises global food
security. We need to strengthen our efforts to protect and
wisely manage biodiversity for food security. Its sustainable
use is central to achieve a secure and sustainable food supply
system.
“We call upon the international community to intensify its
commitment and action towards integrating food security and
biodiversity concerns,” added Mr. Müller.
His statements coincide with the opening today of a global
biodiversity conference (19-30 May 2008, Bonn, Germany) of the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) with the participation
of representatives from some 190 countries, as well as of
international organizations.
The interface between biodiversity and agriculture, the
accelerated rate of deforestation and ways to address the
climate change challenges through biodiversity use are among the
main issues on the agenda of the Bonn meeting.
The relationship between biodiversity and agriculture is also
the theme for this year’s UN International Day for Biological
Diversity which will be celebrated in Bonn and throughout the
world on May 22.
Progress being made at FAO
FAO has long considered biological diversity as fundamental to
its mandate in nutrition, agriculture, forestry and fisheries
and its Member Countries are at the forefront of integrating
biodiversity into the food and agriculture framework. Since the
last meeting of the Convention, FAO has made progress in many
different fields:
- FAO released the first
global assessment on the status of and threats to animal
genetic resources, which was followed by the adoption by its
Member countries of a global plan of action;
- FAO’s governing Conference
also endorsed an innovative 10 year work-plan to protect all
genetic diversity relevant to FAO’s mandate;
- A new international
mechanism for exchanging crop genetic resources and sharing
the benefits arising from its use has been put in place
through FAO’s International Treaty on Plant Genetic
Resources for Food and Agriculture;
- Throughout the world, FAO
has been working with nations, and its farmers, livestock
keepers, pastoralists, fisherfolk, forest and rural
communities as well as researchers to sustainably use
biodiversity and conserve it for future generations.
In addition, FAO cooperates with
the CBD on a wide variety of issues ranging from forest
biodiversity, marine and coastal biodiversity and protected
areas. Flagship cooperative efforts between FAO and the CBD are
the joint work on agricultural biodiversity and forest
biodiversity.
The Bonn meeting takes place two years before the deadline for
achieving the 2010 Biodiversity Target, adopted in 2002 by 110
Heads of State and Government, of significantly reducing the
rate of biodiversity loss at the global and national level by
2010.
At the same time, the international community is faced with the
worst food crisis in modern history. Prices of bread, rice,
maize products, milk, oil, soybeans and other basic foods have
increased sharply in recent months in all developing countries. |
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