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Access and Rights to Genetic Resources and Cryoconservation Highlighted When NordGen Attended a FAO Meeting in Rome.

Date: 2023.07.21

Contact: info@nordgen.org

Despite the temperature reaching over 40 degrees, representatives from many of the world’s countries gathered this week to discuss international cooperation on genetic resources. NordGen attended the meeting and arranged three side events focusing on access and rights to genetic resources (ABS), cryoconservation of farm animal genetic resources and Svalbard Global Seed Vault.

Across the street from the ancient Roman chariot-racing stadium Circus Maximus, the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is located. In the gigantic 1930s building, representatives from all over the world gathered for the nineteenth regular session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA). The commission is the only permanent intergovernmental body focused on conserving all types of biodiversity for food and agriculture and promotes its sustainable use for food security. NordGen attended the meeting as an observer in the CGRFA.

Lise Lykke Steffensen, Executive Director, NordGen.

“Biodiversity and genetic resources are essential for human life on earth and crucial for adapting to climate change and promoting sustainable development. The benefits arising from international collaboration within this area are substantial. That’s why the work within the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture is so very important”, says Lise Lykke Steffensen, Executive Director of NordGen.

Updated Recommendations

In addition to participating in the meeting, NordGen also organized several side events. The first of these was about the new report “Access and Rights to Genetic Resources – A Nordic Approach (II)” which was published by the Nordic Council of Ministers earlier this year. The publication addresses various aspects of Access and benefit-sharing (ABS) of genetic resources and is based on a 20-year-old predecessor that needed to be updated due to developments in this field. The work on the report has been led by Lise Lykke Steffensen, Executive Director of NordGen, who presented the report at the side-event. She was accompanied by a panel of experts who also gave presentations. One of the speakers was Jens Weibull, Senior Officer in the Swedish Board of Agriculture.

Jens Weibull, Senior Officer, the Swedish Board of Agriculture.

“One of several main purposes of the new report is to increase awareness in the Nordic region about ABS issues and to come up with recommendations for the Nordic countries and NordGen,” said Weibull during his presentation.

In Collaboration With the FAO

In collaboration with the Crop Trust and the Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture and Food, NordGen also arranged a side event on the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Another event highlighted cryoconservation of animal genetic resources – the collection and freezing of semen, ova, embryos or DNA segments in liquid nitrogen. NordGen assisted the FAO in developing the new FAO guidelines “Innovations in cryoconservation of animal genetic resources – Practical guide” which was also published earlier this year.

Paul Boettcher, Animal Production Officer at the FAO.

“There was a need to update the guidelines because technology in this field is moving quickly. The utilization of cryobanks is about providing a secure backup, but also to use stored material to help maintain the diversity within the live population, to support active research and serve other roles.”, says Paul Boettcher, Animal Production Officer at the FAO and one of the speakers in the side event.

The Section Leader of NordGen Farm Animals, Mervi Honkatukia has been leading the coordination of the work with the new FAO guidelines. During her presentation, she talked about the status of cryoconservation in the Nordic countries.

Mervi Honkatukia, Section Leader, NordGen Farm Animals.

“There is no common Nordic genebank for cryoconservation of animal genetic resources, but currently there is an increasing interest in genebank activities. All Nordic countries have cryopreservation of semen. When it comes to the preservation of embryos, DNA or tissues it varies between the countries”, Honkatukia said.

Representatives From 179 countries

The meeting arranged in Rome this week is held every other year. CGRFA gather representatives from 179 countries and the EU to discuss issues concerning the international agreements regulating the countries work with genetic and biological diversity. You can read more about the Commission here.

The nineteenth regular session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture took place between July 17 and July 21, 2023.