On 11–12 March 2025, the second meeting of the EU Council Working Party on Genetic Resources and Innovation in Agriculture F 05 took place in Brussels, as part of the Polish Presidency of the European Union.
The main objective of this meeting was to coordinate EU positions to be presented at the 20th Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in Rome, 24–28 March this year.
The Polish delegation leading the deliberations was represented by eight people, including, on behalf of the National Research Institute of Animal Production, Ewa Sosin, PhD Eng. – preparing EU positions on animal genetic resources and Grażyna Polak, PhD Eng. – dealing with positions on biodiversity.
Under the leadership of the Polish Presidency, the following issues were discussed:
1. The role of genetic resources for food and agriculture in mitigation of and adaptation to climate change.
2. Access and benefit sharing (ABS) for genetic resources for food and agriculture.
- Report of the Seventh Session of the Team of Technical and Legal Experts on ABS.
- Implementation of ABS country measures.
3. Digital sequence information (DSI) and genetic resources for food and agriculture.
4. Biodiversity.
- Report of the First Session of the Ad Hoc Expert Team on Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture.
- Implementation of the Framework for Action on Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture.
- Preparation of the Second SOW Report on Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture.
5. Aquatic genetic resources.
- Report of the Fifth Session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
- Implementation of the Global Plan of Action for the Conservation, Sustainable Use and Development of Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
- Preparation of the Third Report on the State of the World’s Aquatic Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
6. Animal genetic resources.
- Report of the Thirteenth Session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
- Preparation of the Third Report on the State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
7. Genetic resources of microorganisms and invertebrates.
- Report of the First Session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Microorganism and Invertebrate Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
- Invertebrates used as dietary components of animal food/feed.
- Microorganisms used in food production and the food industry.
- Further study of other groups of genetic resources of microorganisms and invertebrate animals.
8. Plant genetic resources.
- Report of the Twelfth Session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
- Finalization of the Third Report on the Status of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
- Implementation and Review of the Second Global Plan of Action for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.
- Results of activities in the area of policy, utilization, and propagating material use.
9. Forest genetic resources.
- Report of the Eighth Session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Forest Genetic Resources.
- The Second Report on the State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources.
- Review and Implementation of the Global Plan of Action for the Conservation, Sustainable Use and Development of Forest Genetic Resources.
10. Options for the identification of new and emerging issues.
During the two-day meeting, the positions prepared by all Member States on the listed items were discussed. Member States submitted amendments to improve the text of the positions. Finally, after two days of deliberations, all documents were agreed and are ready to start negotiations during the 20th Session of the FAO Commission.
During the FAO Commission, the above-mentioned documents will be subject to agreement within the European Regional Group.