GFAR’s constituencies have prioritized the issue of agro-biodiversity as one of prime global importance, affecting as it does the lives and livelihoods of millions of small farmers and communities who are dependent upon local crop varieties and indigenous species and recognizing also the role of agro-biodiversity of all forms in agro-ecosystem function. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources (ITPGR) recognizes the importance of agricultural research and contains special provisions for the exchange of information, transfer of technology and capacity building related to plant genetic resources. The work of GFAR and ITPGR converge in the need to expand varietal conservation and exchange and the fair sharing of benefits to include a range of species that have huge local significance and in many cases, global market potential.

Both GFAR and ITPGR are keen to facilitate greater collaboration and synergies among the many programmes addressing these crops, a view that has been echoed through discussion with all those concerned about the future of these species. The relatively localized nature and usage of many of these species belies their importance to millions of the world’s poor in meeting needs in food, nutrition, fodder, fibre, medicines and generating local incomes, as well as their deep-rooted cultural importance to local communities. Only through larger scale collaborative actions and synergies will we learn more of their significance and potential so that their full development significance can be realized.

Over the past year, several multi-partner international actions related to the International Year of Biodiversity have highlighted these links, including regional conferences in Africa (catalysed through FARA), Asia (catalysed through APAARI) and Europe and the Mediterranean (catalysed through Bioversity International). These have each shown a strong desire for collaborative action in and between regions. Discussions with other GFAR-supported Partnership programmes addressing related agendas have revealed a strong desire for GFAR-related programmes to link together more effectively, to create a momentum for real change and large scale impact in this area. The same desire has been articulated by member countries of the Treaty.

Towards this, we need to first understand what international programmes are presently active around the world and the areas of common purpose by which they might collaborate. To this end, GFAR and ITPGR will, in the first instance and as an initial step, bring together some of the key international actors, institutions and networks concerned with generating, accessing and using knowledge of these crops and with promoting their conservation and value, along with relevant Rome-based multilateral agencies and institutions, such as the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, the Global Crop Diversity Trust and Bioversity International, for an initial joint brainstorming workshop to identify the desired scope and reach of such an initiative. GFAR and ITPGR are together organizing this initial meeting on January 20 and 21, 2011 in Rome, to brainstorm what will be required to go forward effectively in this crucial area. Intended as a small initial scoping meeting, discussion will draw on the outcomes of previous regional and thematic analyses to help explore the frame for wider consideration and subsequent actions involving many actors around the world.

Aims of the meeting:
1. To create a first mapping of the initiatives, purpose and potential synergies of international, regional and national organizations and networks active in this area.
2. To identify the scope and scale of key development outcomes sought through collaborative action.
3. To identify possible supporting mechanisms to be addressed to take forwards such a partnership initiative into practice over the years ahead.
4. Providing a basis for discussions at the fourth Governing Body of the ITPGR on these issues.
5. What is needed for information sharing between organizations involved in the GFAR and the ITPGR.

While focused on plant agrobiodiversity, this meeting aims to also lay the ground principles for subsequent expansion of the concepts for international partnership to be developed in due course into other areas of agrobiodiversity such as animal, fishery and microbial resources, their implications and use.

Delivery of subsequent collaborative programmes will be based on actions at national and regional levels. GFAR Secretariat will report to GFAR stakeholders and Regional Fora on the outcomes of this meeting, for their wider engagement and consideration of what linkages they may wish to take forward with regard to each region and constituency.

The process aims to help to build a global partnership in this agenda, whether through research, conservation or use of agrobiodiversity. The more the range of partners that become involved, the better the potential for networking of knowledge and action and for fostering collaborative programmes with large scale impact in each region and globally. The principle is one of true collaborative action, with each programme playing its role, but benefiting from the value brought by other complementary involvements.

A selection of relevant papers and institutional connections is now available on the GFAR website as a signpost to the partners and issues involved and further contributions to this are very welcome from government organizations, national and international institutions and civil society and private organizations active in the area. As these partnerships evolve, GFAR stakeholders are kindly requested to each help identify and engage national and regional initiatives that are addressing this agenda, towards creating a bigger impact in this area among all concerned.

The GFAR Secretariat looks forward to developing these concepts further with you all and in support of achieving greater impact through the sustainability and value of agrobiodiversity around the world.