Call for Action at the Settimana della Biodiversità

The climax of last week’s Settimana della Biodiversità in Rome, organized by Bioversity International, was a Call for Action from the Rome-based food agencies and other partners. On Saturday May 22nd 2010, International Day of Biodiversity, they called on the world to invest in smallholder farmers, rural communities, women and young people,all of whom have responsibilities for the conservation and use of agricultural biodiversity to fight malnutrition, build a more sustainable agriculture and improve incomes.

First to speak at the Call for Action, which was introduced by Emile Frison, Director-General of Bioversity, was Kanayo Nwanze, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

“I’ve been described at the world’s largest shouter for the poor. Tonight I am prepared to shout again,” said Nwanze.

The Call for Action asked for the opening of the political and financial avenues along which these custodians must be granted passage to conserve and advance biodiversity.

Emile Frison, the Director-General of Bioversity International, underscored the importance of diversity in agriculture. Efforts to increase production have so far been based on simplified systems that depend on a few varieties of even fewer crops, which require large amounts of energy-dependent inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides. These simplified systems are both vulnerable to shocks and are unsustainable.

“This leads me to the conclusion that we must change paradigm and invest in intensification without simplification,” said Frison. He called on governments and funding organizations to invest in research and development for agriculture, based on this new paradigm.

Amir Abdullah, Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the World Food Programme (WFP), addressed WFP’s work with chronically hungry people. “One of the causes of malnutrition is the lack of biodiversity. We recognize every day the impact that lack of biodiversity has on the people we work with. For that bottom billion, it’s a matter of life and death.”

Parviz Koohafkan, Director of the Land and Water Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), reiterated the need for political will and government collaboration. “Policies need to be set in place to help the farmers, who are the custodians of biodiversity. They must be able to maintain, perpetuate and get income from [biodiversity].”

Shakeel Bhatti, Executive Secretary of the International Treat on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) spoke about projects being supported by the Treaty’s Benefit Sharing Fund, which started in 2009. He pointed out that Italy had recently announced $US1.2 million towards the Fund to support small farmers and agricultural biodiversity.

The Call for Action was welcomed by respondents from partner organizations, including Guy Kastler of Via Campesina. He stressed the importance of farmers’ rights: “Farmers rights need to be acknowledged, or there will be no biodiversity,” said Kastler.

Note to Editors

The Call for Action was made by:

• Emile Frison, Director-General of Bioversity International
• Parviz Koohafkan, Director of the Land and Water Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
• Amir Abdullah, Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the World Food Programme (WFP)
• Kanayo Nwanze, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
• Shakeel Bhatti, Executive Secretary of the International Treat on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)