Highlights and images for 18 July 2023

As the only intergovernmental organization that addresses all types of biodiversity for food and agriculture (BFA), the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) continued deliberations on Tuesday with work on the Framework for Action on Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture (FA BFA). During the afternoon, delegates also tackled the first sectoral matters under the agenda: Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA) and Forest Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (FGRFA).

Want to dive deeper on today's talks? Read the full Earth Negotiations Bulletin daily report.

The mutual supportiveness of the FA BFA and the recently adopted Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) received a lot of attention in the morning. Several countries and regions welcomed the GBF and supported its implementation alongside the FA BFA. Many cautioned against developing new indicators and reporting obligations. In light of differing opinions, CGRFA 19 Chair Deidré Januarie requested delegates to submit textual proposals for the Secretariat to prepare a compromise text for further consideration.

Subsequently, discussions shifted to plants and forests.

On PGRFA, delegates considered the Report of the Eleventh Session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group (ITWG) on PGRFA, presented by the ITWG Chair Imke Thormann (Germany).

Delegates noted progress on the development of the draft third report on the State of the World’s (SOW) PGRFA, with some expressing concern that the thematic background studies have not yet been received and could delay finalization of the report.

Deliberations also touched upon the Implementation and Review of the Second Global Plan of Action (GPA) for PGRFA.

On the effects of seed policies, laws and regulations, delegates considered a concept note discussing ways in which such policies impact small-scale farmers, as well as research on local varieties, gender dimensions and inclusion of farmers in a multi-stakeholder group.

Finally, delegates discussed and endorsed the Report of the Seventh Session of the ITWG on FRGFA, and took note of the ongoing drafting process of the second SOW FGRFA awaiting additional country input.