Daily report for 2 March 2000
CSD 8 Ad Hoc Intersessional Working Groups
The Intersessional AHWG met in the afternoon to consider the Co- Chairs' draft Summary of the Discussion and Possible Elements for a Draft CSD-8 Decision on Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (SARD). Delegates spent the morning reviewing the drafts. The Co-Chairs' revised draft Summary of the Discussion and Elements for a Possible Decision on Integrated Planning and Management of Land Resources was distributed during the meeting of the AHWG.
CO-CHAIRS' POSSIBLE ELEMENTS FOR A DRAFT DECISION ON SARD
The following is a summary of the Co-Chairs' preliminary paper setting out Possible Elements for a Draft Decision on SARD. [Editor's Note: Due to space constraints we are not providing an outline of the Co-Chairs' draft Summary of the Discussion on SARD.]
Introduction: This section notes that the major objective of SARD is to increase food production and enhance food security in a sustainable manner.
Priority Issues: This section identifies the following priority issues: implementation of SARD goals; poverty alleviation; financing for SARD; technology transfer and capacity building; biotechnology; genetic resources; and integrated pest management. It urges governments to: reaffirm their commitment to reaching the World Food Summit (WFS) target; promote innovative agricultural practices; pursue an ecosystem approach to SARD; implement the World Summit for Social Development commitments; further explore the potential of biotechnology for increasing food security and sustainable agricultural practices; ratify the Biosafety Protocol; strengthen efforts in protecting biodiversity and conserving genetic resources; eliminate unsustainable use of agricultural chemicals; and, with relevant international organizations, support increased capacity building and technology transfer. The international community is urged to fulfill Agenda 21 commitments on financial assistance, and to develop strategies to attract private capital flows to more developing countries. The Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC and the GEF are encouraged to support environmentally sound farming systems.
International Cooperation: This section urges governments to: work towards further liberalization of trade in agriculture products while providing for social and environmental concerns; ratify relevant UN Conventions; develop innovative institutional mechanisms for stakeholder participation; and, with international organizations, promote farmers' access to information, technologies and markets. The section also calls upon the FAO and relevant international organizations to assist in developing policies, regulations, and data collection methodologies; and encourages the International Fund for Agricultural Development to strengthen assistance to rural communities in developing countries.
AHWG PLENARY
Co-Chair Modesto Francisco Fernandez Diaz-Silveira (Cuba) opened the meeting of the AHWG at 3:00 pm. He invited CSD-8 Chair Juan Mayr (Colombia) to brief delegates on a meeting of the CSD Bureau, which had taken place that morning. Mayr informed delegates that he expected the results from the two CSD Intersessional AHWGs to provide an excellent foundation for debates at the High-Level Segment at CSD-8. He reported that open invitations had been distributed to governments. The CSD-8 Chair said he wished to have the CSD operate as an open forum for an exchange of ideas, with few formal inputs. Mayr also reported that he had extended an invitation to the UN Secretary-General to deliver an opening statement at CSD-8.
DISCUSSION ON THE CO-CHAIRS' DRAFT SUMMARY ON SARD
Co-Chair Diaz-Silveira invited comments on the Co-Chairs' Summary of the Discussion and Possible Elements for a Draft Decision by CSD-8 on Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development.
On the Summary, the G-77/CHINA pointed out that an AHWG document on water had not been distributed or discussed, and asked that the Summary specify that the issue would be taken up in April. He also asked that the Summary give greater prominence to desertification and to funding for the Convention to Combat Desertification. The EU, supported by JAPAN, the REPUBLIC OF KOREA and SWITZERLAND, noted surprise at a description of the multifunctional character of agriculture as a new concept. The G-77/CHINA, supported by BRAZIL, said the concept had not gone through an intergovernmental process. On the impacts of trade liberalization, the EU noted that many delegations drew a distinction between different types of subsidies, and added that trade distorting policies do not only impact developing countries. On trade distorting policies, JAPAN, supported by the REPUBLIC OF KOREA, specified "environmentally harmful" policies. The US proposed text on emergency preparedness, with reference to building capacity for early warning and environmental monitoring systems. On organic agriculture, EGYPT recalled his request that developed countries assist developing countries. AUSTRALIA noted recent debate in other forums about the precise meaning of the precautionary principle. SWITZERLAND proposed relocating reference to some countries' concerns about the use of organic agriculture standards as trade barriers, to a paragraph on trade liberalization. The SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE FOOD SYSTEM & TRADE UNION CAUCUS noted that blanket support for trade liberalization in agriculture contradicted SARD. CONSUMERS INTERNATIONAL noted that the AHWG had overlooked the critical role of consumers and expressed doubt on the role of biotechnology in improving food security.
DISCUSSION ON THE CO-CHAIRS' ELEMENTS FOR A POSSIBLE CSD-8 DECISION ON SARD
The Co-Chair invited comments on the Co-Chairs' preliminary draft Elements for a Possible CSD-8 Decision on SARD.
General Comments: The EC suggested improving the draft's treatment of the role of agriculture in society, and highlighting the importance of, inter alia, rural development. On the WFS, the US suggested emphasizing more sustainable agricultural development. NORWAY asked for a reference to indigenous "peoples." Introduction: The G-77/CHINA urged implementation of international agreements to support agriculture in developing countries, and stressed the link between food security and poverty. The US requested the use of the WFS definition of food security.
PRIORITY ISSUES: General Comments: The EU suggested a new priority issue on desertification and, with the US, on access to land and security of tenure. MEXICO proposed a priority issue on participation, and supported the US-proposed priority issue on "emergency preparedness."
Implementation of SARD: The EU suggested inclusion of additional paragraphs urging governments to: develop sustainable development strategies by 2002; integrate agriculture in rural development frameworks; consider the health impacts of agriculture; and support the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the FAO. With the US, he suggested replacing "hunger" with "the number of undernourished." He suggested references to organic farming, and to energy efficiency funded through the Clean Development Mechanism and the GEF. The G-77/CHINA, supported by POLAND, added reference to the "sustainable use" of agro-biodioversity. On support for environmentally sound farming, the Group suggested adding reference to the CBD and the Global Mechanism of the CCD. MEXICO proposed reference to protecting indigenous knowledge. JAPAN emphasized the role of domestic food production in ensuring food security. CANADA suggested a paragraph, urging governments to develop participatory rural development policies. AUSTRALIA underlined the importance of livestock management, and, with the US, emphasized the role of governments and international bodies in pursuing environmentally sound farming systems, in line with UNFCCC and GEF commitments.
Poverty Alleviation: The G-77/CHINA, with EGYPT, suggested shifting this subsection to the end of the Priorities section. NEW ZEALAND suggested including it under "Implementation of SARD Goals" and, with the EC, changing the title to "Poverty Eradication". The EC defended the prominence given to the poverty subsection. MEXICO suggested a special emphasis on zones of high poverty and biodiversity. On poverty alleviation, EGYPT recommended adding text from the Agenda 21 on SARD.
Financing for SARD: The EC added a paragraph on domestic resources. The US included reference to rural financial mechanisms and to urging the use of existing financial mechanisms. The RUSSIAN FEDERATION suggested reference to economies in transition (EITs).
Technology Transfer and Capacity Building: The G-77/CHINA encouraged international financial institutions to promote technology transfer. The EC proposed dissemination of environmentally sound technologies held by international organizations. NEW ZEALAND supported the EC's call for information dissemination. The US emphasized the role of the private sector and farmer participation. The RUSSIAN FEDERATION called for reference to EITs. JAPAN called for specific reference to the multifunctional aspects of agriculture.
Biotechnology: The G-77/CHINA, with the EC and AUSTRALIA, emphasized the role of the precautionary principle, with AUSTRALIA noting Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration. The EC recommended provision for public health, and urged ratification of the Biosafety Protocol. The US proposed text highlighting the role of international organizations and the private sector, and removing specific reference to the precautionary principle.
Genetic Resources: On genetic resources, the G-77/CHINA objected to a reference to "world" resources. POLAND proposed replacing "protection" with "sustainable use" of genetic resources, and suggested adding reference to farm-animal genetic resources, noting the FAO's country-driven strategy.
Integrated Pest Management: The US emphasized the potential of sustainable alternatives to unsustainable chemical use. NEW ZEALAND highlighted the role of farmers and the private sector. The EC called for reference to sustainable plant nutrition, and urged governments to finalize negotiations on Persistent Organic Pollutants.
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION: Agricultural Trade: The G-77/CHINA suggested deleting references to social and environmental concerns and environmentally harmful subsidies. On LDCs, the EC, with NORWAY, added paragraphs on improved market access and on implementation of the Marrakesh Decision, the WTO Plan of Action, and Joint Commitment of the IMF, World Bank and WTO. The REPUBLIC OF KOREA, with JAPAN, stressed food security, environmental concerns and country specific conditions. The US added references to public health and safety, and rural development. MEXICO underscored the importance of small-scale farmers. NORWAY introduced a reference to Agenda 21's chapter on SARD.
Information Exchange and Dissemination: The G-77/CHINA added reference to information technology. The US suggested encouraging the private sector to promote access to information for groups, including farm workers, women and small-scale farmers. The EC suggested an additional sentence, specifying access for women, marginalized groups, and indigenous and local communities.
UN Activities: The EC, with JAPAN, suggested changing the title to "UN and Other International Activities," and, on data collection, added reference to the CBD and to monitoring. The EC added a new sentence on the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research. INDONESIA added emergency preparedness activities.
Participation: On effective participation, the US added reference to partnership with the private sector. The EC agreed, and added a new paragraph calling for the creation of an ad hoc, informal, open-ended working group on SARD to further develop the outcomes of CSD-8 in preparation for CSD-10. NEW ZEALAND highlighted the importance of women, empowerment and participation.
ADJOURNMENT OF PLENARY
The Co-Chair closed the meeting after informing delegates that the AHWG would reconvene at 3:00 pm Friday to comment on the Co- Chairs' revised drafts on Integrated Planning and Management of Land Resources & Sustainable Agriculture.
IN THE CORRIDORS
Representatives of indigenous people, trade unions and other stakeholder groups have reported that Chair Mayr has invited them to use the Multi-stakeholder Dialogue to provoke and inform CSD-8 with ideas and analyses to be channeled into the Commission's deliberations. The stakeholders also received an invitation to work with Mayr on raising the CSD-8's media profile and enhancing its transparency.
THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY
AHWG FINAL PLENARY: The final Plenary meeting of the AHWG will commence at 3:00 pm. Copies of the Co-Chairs' revised Summary of Discussion and Elements paper on SARD will be available at 10:00 am in Conference Room 4.