Genetic Resources and Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture

GENETIC RESOURCES AND BIODIVERSITY FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE A treasure for the future Genetic resources for food and agriculture are not only of actual but even more of potential value to food security, nutrition and livelihoods. However, biodiversity, and in particular genetic diversity, is being lost at an alarming rate. ANIMAL Only 14 of the more than 30 domesticated mammalian and bird species provide There are about 8 300 breeds of which 8% are ext and 22% at risk of extinction 90% of human food supply from livestock FOREST Forests are home to over of terrestrial 80% biodiversity There are over 80 000 tree species, yet less than 1% have been studied in any depth for their present and future potential AQUATIC Fish provides about 3 billion people with almost 20%of their intake of animal protein 10 species account for about 30% of the world marine capture fisheries production and 10 species account for about 50% of the aquaculture production The world's aquatic ecosystems contain over 175 000 species of fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants PLANT 80% Plants account for over of the human diet 30 000 terrestrial plants are known to be edible 7000 are cultivated or collected by humans for food 30 crops feed the world 5 cereal crops provide 60% energy intake of the world population Some 7.4 million samples of crop diversity are stored in 1750 genebanks around the world Rice, wheat, maize, millet and sorghum Crop improvement accounts for 50% of the world's food MICRO-ORGANISMS and INVERTEBRATES The so called "hidden" biodiversity is an array of species so numerous it is incalculable Micro-organisms and invertebrates contribute to ecosystem services, such as disease and pest control, decomposition of organic matter and nitrogen fixation YOGURT Pollination services They are essential in many food and agro-industrial processes by insects and other animals, affect of the world's стор productio 35% THREATS TO GENETIC DIVERSITY INCLUDE t loss of natural habitats climate environmental change degradation effects of increasing population pressure change in consumer demand development and use of a few species, varieties and breeds FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR GENETIC RESOURCES Improve policy and legal frameworks Integrate genetic resources and biodiversity into the development agenda and strengthen conservation and sustainable use Facilitate access to genetic resources and their related knowledge COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Commission provides the only permanent forum for governments to discuss and negotiate matters specifically relevant to biological diversity for food and agriculture. The main objectives of the Commission are to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of COMMISSION ON GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND FIAT genetic resources for food and agriculture, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from their use, for present and future generations. AGRICULTURE PANIS 30 YE ARS 198 3 - 2013 © FAO www.fao.org/nr/cgrfa/en/ April 2013