Agrobiodiversität in Deutschland - Genres

VIII | Band 32
Preface of the Editors
is currently under development, based on an analysis of the state and needs in
this field.
The Strategy for Agrobiodiversity of the BMELV as well as the Scientific Advisory
Board for Biodiversity and Genetic Resources of the BMELV are also essential
structures for further strategic operation in the field of agrobiodiversity.
During the symposium, the Scientific Advisory Board handed over two current
position papers to the Parliamentary State Secretary of BMELV Peter Bleser.
One position paper addresses the reform process of the EU Common Agricultural
Policy with regard to agrobiodiversity, the other the impacts of biopatenting
on agrobiodiversity.
Participants agreed upon the fact, that the importance of agrobiodiversity has
gained awareness in all areas of agriculture, forestry and fisheries as well as in
the broader public.
As the speakers from abroad emphasized, Germany was actively involved in
the political process at the international level, particularly in the Food and
Agriculture Organisation (FAO). International agreements like the International
Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources (ITPGR) have been successfully
established, global plans for plant and for animal genetic resources have been
launched.
However, in spite of all national and international efforts, the claimed target of
Rio 2002, to significantly reduce the loss of biodiversity till 2010, could not be
achieved.
Thus, the second day was dedicated to working group discussions about the
future of agrobiodiversity. What are our visions for the next 20 years? What
should most urgently be done to achieve these visions? What are the tasks of
policy, and what should other stakeholders do? What are the next steps?
These questions have been discussed with regard to the topics:
•
•
“agrobiodiversity and climate change”,
“agrobiodiversity and global food security”,
• “agrobiodiversity and conservation ( in situ/ex situ) and
•
“agrobiodiversity and consumers/public”.
All working groups agreed, that agrobiodiversity and its sustainable utilization
is of highest importance for global food security, for the adaptation of production
to climate change and for the society. Much work remains to be done in
raising awareness to make the best use of the vast potentials that agrobiodiversity
offers.
Hardly surprising, that one of the central conclusions of the plenary discussion
was “we have to intensify our efforts”. Therefore, the concepts need to be
focused for a highly effective and efficient approach. The diverse and profound
plenary discussion reflected the numerous interlinkages of agrobiodiversity
with the whole agricultural production chain, through processing to consumption.
Participants also concluded throughout the discussions that the vision for the
future of agrobiodiversity in Germany should be further developed.
Dialogue processes with a broad participation of stakeholders were proposed to
develop such a vision. Topics of such dialogues could be, among others, on the
development of a vision of the future land use, on target figures for the conservation
and sustainable utilization of agrobiodiversity or on the reinforcement
of the marketing of regional products. Beyond that, well-defined indicators and
clear target figures are needed, to assess the success of current and the need for
future measures. The National Programmes should play a more important role
in the implementation of these processes.
Band 32 | IX