Commission On Genetic Resources For Food And Agriculture

Parties to the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) recently convened in Rome for the 20th meeting (CGRFA-20).

At CGRFA-20, the third report on the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture was also released.

About the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

Establishment: The Commission was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1983.

CGRFA facilitated the adoption of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) in 2001.
The ITPGRFA recognizes the contributions of farmers to crop diversity and establishes a global system for accessing plant genetic materials for breeders, farmers, and scientists.
Global Plan of Action for AnGR (GPA): CGRFA began its work on Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR) in 1997.
- It led to preparation of the first-ever Report on the State of the World’s AnGR and resulted in the negotiation and adoption of the GPA in 2007.

Exclusive body: It is the only permanent intergovernmental body that specifically addresses the components of biological diversity for food and agriculture.
Purpose: The Commission serves as the primary permanent international forum for governments to discuss, negotiate, and make decisions on matters related to genetic resources for food and agriculture (GRFA).
Headquarters: Rome, Italy.
Members: The Commission has 179 member countries, including India, along with the European Union.
Period of sessions: Regular sessions of the Commission are held once every two years.

The SoW-PGRFA report provides a comprehensive assessment of the conservation, use, and status of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) at the global, regional, and national levels.
It is published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

Farmers’ varieties (FV) and landraces (LRs) are traditional crop varieties developed and maintained by farmers over generations.
They are genetically diverse, locally adapted, and resilient to environmental changes.

Importance in Agriculture:

FV/LRs contribute to biodiversity, food security, and climate resilience.
They often have superior resistance to pests, diseases, and drought compared to commercial hybrids.

Examples :

Kala Namak Rice (Uttar Pradesh): A scented rice variety resistant to drought.
Chapati Wheat (Madhya Pradesh): Traditional wheat with high protein content.
Rajnigandha Cotton (Maharashtra): Drought-tolerant indigenous cotton variety.

First Report (1998):
- Presented at the Fourth International Technical Conference in Leipzig, Germany (1996).
- Served as the first global assessment of the conservation status and management practices of PGRFA.
Second Report (2010):Provided updated findings from the first report.
- Emphasized the importance of linking conservation efforts with climate resilience and food security.

Crop Concentration: 60% of global food supply comes from just nine crops: sugarcane, maize, rice, wheat, potatoes, soybeans, oil palm, sugar beet, and cassava.
Threatened Diversity: Globally, 6% of farmers’ varieties (FV/LR) are at risk, with some sub-regions experiencing a loss of more than 18%.
Highest Risk Regions: Southern Africa, the Caribbean, and Western Asia are experiencing the highest levels of genetic diversity loss.
India’s Scenario: Over 50% of documented farmers’ varieties and landraces (FV/LRs) across five agroecological zones in India are under threat.

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