Organisation of an international scientific event "The Multi-stakeholder Expert Dialogue on genetic resources for Food and Agriculture

The "Multi-stakehoklder expert dialogue on ABS for GRFA" consisted in organizing a series of two meetings (Brussels, January 2011, Montpellier, April 2011) between representatives of six different areas of genetic resources in the area agricultural (crops, farm animals, aquaculture, forest, microbes, invertebrates). Despite differences, these meetings have helped to highlight a number of characteristics common to all sectors concerning patterns of conservation, use and exchange of genetic resources. These meetings have identified the need to better reflect these specificities for the development and implementation of legal and administrative framework on access and benefit sharing both at national and international levels (in the context ofimplementation of the Protocol of Nagoya CBD). This strong message from users of crop genetic resources around the world, was relayed through the report of these meetings that aired during the thirteenth session of the Intergovernmental Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, held at FAO (Rome) last July (report available at the following address:http://www.fao.org/docrep/meeting/023/mb720e.pdf). A side event was also organized during the same session. Based on these initial results, the FAO Commission agreed to establish an ad hoc working group responsible for identifying access and benefit-sharing arrangments that can best address the specific problems related to use of genetic diversity for food security objectives.