March 16, 2011

Australia says plant genetics key to securing global food supply

Conserving and sustaining the world's genetic plant material was key to tackling global food security, Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe Ludwig said on Friday (Mar 11).

The Australian embassy said the impact of the recent extreme weather events in Australia on food production has highlighted how important it was to safeguard the crop genetic resources.

It said Ludwig co-chaired a session at a Ministerial Meeting hosted by Indonesia to coincide with the Fourth Session of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (the Treaty).

Joined by his ministerial colleagues from 20 countries, Minister Ludwig discussed the valuable role of the Treaty and its benefit sharing fund in the face of natural disasters, changing climate and loss of biodiversity.

"Australia relies on genetic resources from other countries for its crop development - more than 95% of our broad acre and horticulture crops are sourced from genetic resources from other countries. In the 30 years to 2008 Australian crop productivity increased by 1.9% per annum, in part due to advances in plant breeding," Ludwig said.

The Treaty, established by 127 member countries, is a global mechanism designed to secure food crops. It is estimated 64 crops account for 80% of the plant derived food consumed globally.

Members of the Treaty have developed a benefit sharing fund which invests in high-impact projects addressing food security, adaptation to climate change and agricultural biodiversity. Australia contributed AUD1 million (US$0.99 million) to this fund in 2010.

"It is important that the Treaty be successful and is recognised as the framework for conserving and sharing crop genetic resources," Minister Ludwig said.

"The Treaty provides the framework within which this exchange can occur, where we can share the benefits of cooperation and preserve plant genetic resources for future generations. This is why Australia strongly supports the Benefit Sharing Fund, and why we encourage other contracting parties and partner organisations to do the same," Ludwig added.