The climate change challenge to food security

The climate change Challenge to Food Security with a focus of Genetic resources

1. The Climate Change Challenge to Food
Security with a focus on Genetic Resources:
the FAO perspective

2. •Climate-vulnerable developing countries with low incomes,
hunger and poverty will be most impacted

•Such countries will suffer 20 - 40% declines in overall potential
agricultural productivity in case of more than 2 °C rise
•Instability in food production will increase due to extreme events
and migration of pests and diseases
Climate Change and Food Security

3. •Climate change will become a major driver of biodiversity loss,
including genetic erosion
•A wide range of genetic resources of crops, animals,
microorganisms forest and aquatic species will be needed
•Interdependence among countries on genetic resources for food
and agriculture will increase
Climate Change and Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

4. •Genetic diversity will underpin adaptation to climate change in food
and agriculture but long-term efforts and investments are required
now
•Biodiverse agroecosystems improve resilience and energy efficiency
•Community based management of agricultural biodiversity is critical
to local adaptation
But...Genetic diversity is still overlooked in the
Climate Change negotiations
Climate change: the role of genetic diversity

5. •Actively conserve genetic diversity most threatened by climate
change
•Invest in long-term programmes for characterization; evaluation
and breeding of climate-ready genetic resources
•Strengthen community based management of agricultural
biodiversity for adaptation
•Develop access and benefit-sharing policies which consider
country interdependence due to climate change
Strategic Action (I): strengthen policies and programmes on
genetic resources for food and agriculture

6. •Integrate genetic diversity and food security in the Climate
Change negotiations
•Improve dialogue between international forums (CGRFA;
ITPGRFA; UNFCCC; CBD)
•Design and support financing mechanisms to cope with climate
change and encourage conservation and use of genetic diversity
Strategic Action (II): build a coherent global approach to
genetic diversity, food security and climate change

7. YEAR 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017
PLANT GENETIC
RESOURCES
(PGR)
Update of The
State of the
World’s PGR
Update of Global
Plan of Action
PGR
Update of The
State of the
World’s PGR
ANIMAL
GENETIC
RESOURCES
Follow-up
to the Interlaken
Conference
Review of imple-
mentatio:
Interlaken
outcomes
Update of The
State of the
World’s AnGR
Genetic Resources, Food Security and Climate Change in FAO:
the Multi-year Programme of Work of the Commission

8. YEAR 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017
AQUATIC
GENETIC
RESOURCES
(AqGR)
Review of
information base
and key issues for
the State of the
World’s AqGR
Presentation of
The State of the
World’s AqGR
Development of
elements of the
Code of Conduct
for Responsible
Fisheries related
to AqGR
FOREST
GENETIC
RESOURCES
(FoGR)
Key issues for The
State of the
World’s FoGR
Presentation of
The State of the
World’s FoGR
MICRO-
ORGANISMS
AND
INVERTEBRATES
Scoping Study on
Micro-organisms &
Invertebrates
Review of Key
issues on Micro-
organisms &
Invertebrates
Review work on
Micro-organisms &
Invertebrates
The Commission’s Multi-year Programme of Work of the Commission: major outputs and milestones

9. YEAR 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017
CROSS-
SECTORIAL
MATTERS
Access and
benefit-sharing for
genetic resources
for food and
agriculture
Application of
biotechnologies in
the conservation &
sustainable
utilization of
genetic resources
for food and
agriculture
Climate
change and
genetic
resources for
food and
agriculture
Targets and
indicators for
biodiversity for
food and food and
agriculture
The ecosystem
approach to
biodiversity
management in
agriculture,
forestry and
fisheries
Biodiversity for
food and
agriculture and the
achievement of
the Millennium
Development
Goals
Presentation of
The State of the
World’s
Biodiversity for
Food and
Agriculture
The Commission’s Multi-Year Programme of Work: Major Outputs and Milestones

10. •Climate change will mostly affect food security of
the poorest regions which already high levels of
food insecurity
•Sound management of genetic diversity and
ecosystems will underpin adaptation to climate
change in food and agriculture
•The challenges of food security, climate change,
and biodiversity need a coherent global policy
approach
Conclusions

11. •FAO Conference: a unique opportunity to emphasize
need of a coherent approach to genetic diversity and
climate change within FAO
•A major component of such coherent approach is
being developed by the FAO Commission on Genetic
Resources for Food and Agriculture in 2010-2011
•Strong message about genetic diversity is needed in
Climate Change negotiations (Copenhagen and
beyond)
Next Steps: Climate Change and genetic resources