The Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice
1. Takes note of the note by the Executive Secretary on options for a cross-cutting initiative on biodiversity for food and nutrition (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/10/13), which outlines the linkages between biodiversity and food, existing initiatives on food and nutrition, and the potential scope of the proposed cross-cutting initiative;
2. Takes note of the elements of the cross-cutting initiative on biodiversity for food and nutrition annexed to the present recommendation;
3. Further takes note that the cross-cutting international initiative on biodiversity for food and nutrition is to be established within the programme of work on agricultural biodiversity of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
4. Also takes note that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute and other organizations are undertaking work in the field of biodiversity for food and nutrition, and draws attention to related background information provided to the Subsidiary Body at its tenth meeting (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/10/INF/25); and
5. Requests the Executive Secretary to:
(a) Continue to develop this initiative with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, and to consult with other organizations, including those responsible for the relevant existing initiatives, and, subject to the availability of the necessary resources, to organize a consultation on the scope of the proposed initiative in conjunction with the thirty-second session of the United Nations Standing Committee on Nutrition, to be held in Brasilia in March 2005;
(b) Compile relevant case-studies relating to biodiversity, food and nutrition;
(c) In line with decision VII/32, liaise with the Office of the Secretary General of the United Nations and the Millennium Project to highlight the role of biodiversity in the achievement of relevant Millennium Development Goals, in particular target 2 of goal 1 (To halve between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people who suffer from hunger) and goal 7 (Ensure environmental sustainability); and
(d) Report on progress to the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice at its eleventh meeting.
Annex
ELEMENTS FOR AN INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE ON BIODIVERSITY
FOR FOOD AND NUTRITION
1. The objective of the initiative should be to promote the enhanced sustainable use of biodiversity in programmes contributing to food security and improved human nutrition, as a contribution to the achievement of Millennium Development Goal 1 (target 2), Goal 7 and related goals and targets, and, thereby, to raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity, its conservation and sustainable use.
2. The initiative should be incorporated into, and remain within as appropriate, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.
3. The initiative should take note of existing work addressing biodiversity for food and nutrition and avoid duplication of effort.
4. The initiative should acknowledge that the first report on the State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources and the second report on the State of the World's Plant Genetic Resources will make a valuable contribution to the initiative.
5. The initiative would complement existing activities under the programme of work on agricultural biodiversity of the Convention on Biological Diversity (and others where relevant), and other existing initiatives, and focus on a limited number of activities to raise awareness on the role of biodiversity and integrate biodiversity issues into existing initiatives concerned with food, agriculture, and nutrition.
6. Hence, the following are potential elements of the initiative:
(a) Describe and assess the links between biodiversity, food and nutrition, in particular clarifying the relationship between biodiversity and dietary diversity (and the relevant links between human health and ecosystem health);
(b) Integrate the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity into nutrition agendas and programmes, and agriculture agendas by promoting awareness of the links between biodiversity, food and nutrition, including by promoting public awareness of the links between biodiversity, food and nutrition. (This activity would be linked to target 14 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation.);
(c) Develop an indicator or indicators of biodiversity used in food, consistent with decision VII/30;
(d) Within the context of the programme of work on agricultural biodiversity, and taking into account the ecosystem approach, promote activities that contribute to improving food security and human nutrition through enhanced sustainable use of biodiversity including, inter alia:
