The CBD programme of work on agricultural biodiversity (decision V/5, annex) is designed to address these challenges. It is structured to take into account the different dimensions of agricultural biodiversity and is based on four elements:

• assessing the status and trends of the world’s agricultural biodiversity, the underlying causes of change, and knowledge of management practices;
• identifying adaptive management techniques, practices and policies;
• building capacity, increasing awareness and promoting responsible action; and
• mainstreaming national plans and strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of agricultural biodiversity into relevant agriculture sectors.

In addition, three cross-cutting initiatives have been adopted under the programme of work to address specific issues:

• the International Initiative for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Pollinators (decision V/5, section II) and its action plan (decision VI/5, annex II)
• the International Initiative for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Soil Biodiversity (decision VI/5, para 13) and its framework for action (decision VIII/23 B); and
• the International Initiative on Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition (decision VIII/23 A) and its framework (decision VIII/23, annex).

The ecosystem approach is promoted as a tool to address multiple issues and objectives across cultural, socio-economic and environmental dimensions, resulting in balance between the production of food and the sustained delivery of other ecosystem services necessary to sustain human well-being.

The programme of work identifies policy issues that governments can consider when addressing such matters, while considering various ways and means to improve the capacity of stakeholders and to promote the mainstreaming and integration of agricultural biodiversity into sectoral and cross-sectoral plans and programmes at all levels. The programme of work also promotes studies the impacts of trade liberalization on agricultural biodiversity.

The programme of work on agricultural biodiversity was reviewed by SBSTTA 13 (In-depth review of the implementation of the programme of work) for the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties in 2008 with the full participation of the Parties, relevant international and other organizations, the private sector, civil society, and local and indigenous communities. SBSTTA concluded that the programme is a relevant framework for achieving the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and to address emerging issues such as climate change.