Highlights for Thursday, 21 February 2019

Delegates discuss the draft negotiating text on the second to last day of CGRFA 17
On Thursday, CGRFA 17 delegates met in plenary to continue deliberations on micro-organism and invertebrate genetic resources (MIGR), the Strategic Plan for the CGRFA, and cooperation with international instruments and organizations. Highlights of the deliberations included:
A discussion on future work on sustainable use and conservation of MIGR;
Discussions on the draft revised Strategic Plan for the CGRFA (2018-2027); and
A discussion on inputs received from international instruments and organizations in the Commission’s work, including the State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture (SOW-BFA).
The Expert Group on MIGR met to discuss MIGR functional groups to be addressed in forthcoming CGRFA sessions.Delegates agreed to hold CGRFA 18 from 1 to 5 March 2021 at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy. François Pythoud (Switzerland) was elected as Chair of CGRFA 18.For more details on the day's events and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB).
IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary and analysis report from the 17th Session of the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The summary and analysis report is now available in HTML and PDF.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth
For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page
Morning Plenary

View of the dais during the morning plenary

Hideki Kito, Japan

William Wigmore, CGRFA 17 Chair

David Smith, Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience (CAB) International

Irene Hoffmann, CGRFA Secretary, FAO

Eun Soo Noh, Republic of Korea

Frank Begemann, Germany

Afaf Abdelrahim Elguzouli, Sudan

Manrique Altavista, Argentina

Desterio Ondieki Nyamongo, Kenya

Mohamad Walid Tawil, Arab Centre for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands

Luigi Guarino, Global Crop Biodiversity Trust

Teresa Agüero Teare, Chile
Afternoon Plenary

View of the dais during the afternoon plenary

Johannette Klapwijk, Chair, Expert Group on MIGR

Ethel Tebengi Frances, Solomon Islands

Imelda Smolčić-Tiribocchi, Uruguay

Marliese von den Driesch, Chair, Contact Group on digital sequence information (DSI)

Deidre Januarie, Namibia

Renata Negrelly Nogueira, Co-Chair, Contact Group on Biodiversity

Delegates applaud the confirmation of the incoming CGRFA bureau

Delegates read the draft negotiating text

Delegates read the draft negotiating text
Contact Groups throughout the Day

Contact group on Article Item 7 - biodiversity

Expert group on micro-organism and invertebrate genetic resources (MIGR)
Around the Venue

The UN flag flies outside the FAO building

Delegates from Canada

Delegates from Germany

Delegates from Malawi and Zimbabwe

Delegates from Saudi Arabia and Yemen
Delegates between sessions

A bronze sculpture of a seed on the grounds of the FAO