Collective policy action to safeguard food security (full article)

Interdependence of countries on agricultural genetic diversity; multilateralism; joint global responsibility to safeguard food security and alleviate rural poverty -
just some of the key messages from the official launch of the latest book in the Earthscan-Bioversity International book series   [2]'Issues in Agricultural Biodiversity'.

'Plant Genetic Resources and Food Security - Stakeholders' Perspectives on the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture' - gives a comprehensive overview of the negotiations and implementation of the Treaty and is an essential guide for anyone interested in the way international policy affects food security.

The Treaty, and its multilateral system of access and benefit-sharing, is becoming a model for other international agreements and processes, such as the Nagoya Protocol. Bioversity and the CGIAR have actively participated in the negotiations for both the Treaty and the Nagoya Protocol.

At the launch, which was held as part of FAO's 13th Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in Rome, Italy,  [3] a panel of authors and editors of the book were keen to give their views:

“Unlike other natural resources, such as land, water, energy, which we are over-using, genetic resources are being under-used and these include those species, for instance quinoa, which are the basis for food for poor people in developing countries.” José (Pepe) T. Esquinas-Alcázar, Ex-Secretary of the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

“The Treaty and the creation of this book are clear examples that collectively we can get things done. Collective working is also how we will achieve food security and poverty alleviation.” Christine Frison, PhD researcher at the University of Louvain, Belgium.

Order the book here.   [2]