CGRFA Day 1 - June 11 (afternoon session)

The last agenda before the session ended was on the strategic priorities on Animal GR. Debates as to the source of funding for implementation of the priorities, especially for developing countries, however, pre-empted a detailed discussion of the contents. The discussions will continue tomorrow morning, which will start earlier at 930am.


There were three side-events organized for the first day of the commission meeting:

1. A Greater Appreciation for Local Crops

2. Patents on Seeds and Farm Animals

3. Exchange, Use and Conservation of Animal Genetic Resources: Policy and Regulatory Options


It was decided to have the first meeting of the MYPOW Working Group on Wednesday for the evening session (7:30 to 10:30), where there will be focus on contentious issues in the MYPOW and in what was discussed in the plenary, in order to avoid prolonging and lengthening of the discussions in the plenary. The Working Group was resolved to be composed of the Bureau, 3 representatives from each region, and observers.


Regarding NGO participation in the plenary, the chair clarified that they will be following the traditional way which was to consider suggestions and views from NGOs and IGOs for further discussions after the delegates have finished intervening.


Some points identified which are pressing and important issues to consider on AnGR:
- identifying conservation strategies for AnGR
- guidelines on AnGR CSU
- lack of human capacities and networks
- identifying national initiatives
- in-vitro conservation and issues on structures/responsibilities, access regulations and biosafety issues
- lack of interest from countries, NGOs and donors
- a regulatory framework that would have to address (a) implications of international laws, (b) implications of national laws, and (c) IPR issues


For the second day of the commission meetings, it was decided to allot the morning session for the continuation of the discussions on the strategic priorities for animal genetic resources. The afternoon session was to be separated into two simultaneous plenary sessions on plant genetic resources and on animal genetic resources. Furthermore, the conduct of an evening session was decided to continue discussions on animal genetic resources.