Genetic Resources Commission to meet in Rome on June 11-15

New Delhi, June 7 (UNI) Experts from all over the world will attend a 5-day meeting of FAO's Commission on Genetic Resources in Rome beginning June 11 to discuss the state of the world's animal, forest and aquatic genetic resources.

They will develop a long-term strategy for the international community's work on the sustainable use of biodiversity for food and agriculture.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) warns that the world's genetic resources for food and agriculture continue to decline in all sectors. Increasing agricultural intensification and standardisation of agricultural products are displacing and putting at risk genetically diverse crop and domestic animal biodiversity.

The genetic resources at risk are sometimes less productive, but they are the basis for further breeding, and essential for food security. Unsustainable fishery and forestry practises erode fish and forest genetic resources.

The genetic resources of all these sectors will be crucial in providing consumers with more and better quality food, and facing the huge challenge of climate change.

With the world's population expected to increase by 50 per cent by 2050, agricultural biodiversity must be better managed to promote sustainable increases in agricultural productivity and conserve the resources that future generations will need.

The Commission is the only international institution dealing with all genetic resources in agriculture, forestry and fisheries. UNI