In line with the request of the Twelfth Regular Session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, this report follows the outline set out in the document Format and content of future status and trends reports on animal genetic resources.

The Second Report on the State of the World

The introduction of genetic engineering (GE) in plant breeding has been accompanied by the expansion of patent monopolies. Companies have seized on the opportunity to extend the corporate control of agriculture through the patenting of seeds and plants.

The latest Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO-3)produced by the CBD says that the world has failed to meet its target to achieve a significant reduction in the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010 and outlines a new strategy for reducing biodiversity loss.

See Also

Report: Biodiversity conservation: accounting for the
diversity of values in nature and society

This document is intended to facilitate further discussions on the proposed intergovernmental science-policy platform on biodiversity and ecosystem services and its potential role in producing or contributing to assessments for biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Negotiating access and benefit sharing (ABS) under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) with a view to mutual supportiveness with other international agreements is a challenging task. This report highlights many key interfaces that must be taken into consideration if a new international regime is to be mutually supportive with already established international commitments.

Intended as a contribution to the ongoing negotiations of an international regime on access and benefit sharing (ABS) under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), this report clarifies the main interfaces with other international agreements and processes relevant for ABS, with a view to the challenges of ensuring mutual supportiveness.

This paper deals with policy options for strengthening national capacities to make informed choices about using biotechnology in food and agriculture (BFA).