To "produce more with less", stakeholders in the agri-food systems were urged to level up science and innovation and seek effective and long-lasting solutions to support biodiversity. This was emphasized by Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), during a session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA).

The CGRFA is an intergovernmental body that seeks to address all biodiversity for food and agriculture and targets to reach an international consensus on policies for the sustainable use and conservation of genetic resources for food and agriculture, as well as the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from their use. During the session, the Commission planned strategies and implementation of global actions for animal, aquatic, forest, and plant genetic resources. They also considered a policy response to first even global assessment of The State of the World's Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture.

"Biodiversity allows farmers, breeders, scientists and all other stakeholders along the agri-food chain to keep the agri-food systems up and running," Qu said. "And it is this diversity that forms the basis of innovation and inspires scientists, the private sector, farmers and traders to discover new solutions and make technological breakthroughs."

Read more from FAO.