Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Biodiversity and Food
Biodiversity and Food
diversity is fundamental
production.
Living things are interdependent, intricately linked To pay tribute to biodiversity’s role in ensuring that
in birth, death and renewal. Human beings are people have regular access to enough high-quality
just one small part of this vibrant mosaic yet put food to lead active, healthy lives, FAO has chosen
increasing pressure on species and the environment. “Biodiversity for Food Security” as this year’s World
As a result, many plants and animals are at risk as Food Day theme.
well as essential natural processes such as pollination
by insects and the regeneration of soils by micro- Also in 2004, the world celebrates the entry into
organisms. force of FAO’s International Treaty on Plant Genetic
Resources for Food and Agriculture. e Treaty
To feed a growing population, agriculture must will play an important role in achieving lasting food
be intensified to provide more food. It will also be security and sustainable agriculture.
essential to increase the resilience of agriculture by
maintaining a wide array of life forms with unique
traits, such as trees that survive drought or cattle Biodiversity for Food Security
that reproduce in harsh conditions. Sustainable
agricultural practices can both feed people and
WORLD FOOD DAY
protect the oceans, forests, prairies and other
16 October 2004
ecosystems that harbour biological diversity.
FAO/23425/J. Boethlin
A :
Scientists so far have identified Rice cultivation: a microcosm of the web of life
about 1.4 million of the plant and Rice fields are an extremely rich reservoir of biological diversity — in
animal species that exist on Earth.
one rice field, FAO found more than 700 species of insects and other
People rely on the variety of life for
organisms. At the bottom of this food chain are bacteria and tiny aquatic
food, shelter, goods, services and
livelihood. But as human populations plants. These organisms are eaten by microscopic animals, which in turn
expand, biodiversity comes under are eaten by mosquito and midge larvae. The larvae provide nourishment
threat. e greatest harm is caused for larger predatory insects, whose presence ebbs and flows as rice is
by damage to natural habitats. Wild planted, grown and harvested. During the Green Revolution in Asia heavy
species become extinct when the insecticide use was introduced along with modern high-yielding rice
places where they live are destroyed.
varieties. But after devastating infestations by the brown planthopper,
Pollution, urbanization, deforestation
farmers realized that the chemicals also knocked out natural predators.
and conversion of wetlands force
out wildlife. Mismanagement of Through farmer field schools, integrated pest management techniques
agriculture, forestry and fisheries help farmers to recognize insects and treat only those that threaten their
further accelerates this destructive crop. As a result, chemical use is down and rice yield is up. In 2004, FAO
process. celebrates the International Year of Rice and welcomes the continued
use of ecological methods of growing this essential crop.
B
A rich variety of cultivated plants is rapidly diminishing gene pool B
and domesticated animals serve worries experts. Having a broad ,
as the foundation for agricultural range of unique characteristics allows
biodiversity. Yet people depend on
plants and animals to be bred to
More than 40 percent of the land’s
just 14 mammal and bird species meet changing conditions. It also
surface is used for agriculture,
for 90 percent of their food supply gives scientists the raw materials they
giving farmers a large part of
from animals. And just four need to develop more productive and
the responsibility for protecting
species – wheat, maize, rice and resilient crop varieties and breeds.
biodiversity. By using techniques
potato – provide half of our energy
like no-tillage agriculture, reduced
from plants. Rather than a single crop variety
pesticide use, organic agriculture
that guarantees a high yield, farmers
and crop rotation, farmers maintain
Beyond the number of species, it is in developing countries are more
the fragile balance of their farm
also essential to conserve genetic likely to need an assortment of crops
and the surrounding ecosystems.
diversity within each species. Modern that grow well in harsh climates or
With plants, animals and their
agriculture has encouraged many animals with resistance to disease.
environments intact, a range of
farmers to adopt uniform high- For the poorest farmers, the diversity
essential services to nature is
yielding types of plants or animals. of life may be their best protection
preserved. Livestock, insects, fungi
But when food producers abandon against starvation. Consumers also
and micro-organisms decompose
diversity, varieties and breeds may die benefit when they have access to a
organic matter, transferring nutrients
out – along with specialized traits. wide choice of plants
to the soil. Bees, butterflies, birds and
and animals. is
bats pollinate fruit trees. Swamps and
contributes to a
marshes filter out pollutants. Forests
nutritious diet,
prevent flooding and reduce erosion.
particularly important
And natural predators keep the
for rural communities
growth of any one species in check.
with limited access to
markets.
FAO/12675/F. McDougall
C , increasingly recognized along
FAO/23904/A. Yayé
with their right to receive some
of the benefits, including monetary
FAO estimates that about three-
benefits. e concept of Farmers’
quarters of the genetic diversity of F ,
Rights holds that farmers should
agricultural crops have been lost over share in the benefits, have a voice in
the last century. And of 6 300 animal Since the birth of agriculture decision-making, enjoy continued
10 000 years ago, farmers, fishers, access to genetic diversity and
breeds, 1 350 are endangered or
pastoralists and forest dwellers have obtain protection of their traditional
already extinct. Global efforts to
been managing genetic diversity knowledge. Farmer’s Rights is an
conserve plants and animals in gene by selecting plants and animals to essential part of the International
banks, botanical gardens and zoos are meet environmental conditions and
Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for
vital. But an equally important task food needs. Farmers transfer this Food and Agriculture (see Protecting
is to maintain biodiversity on farms knowledge from one generation to biodiversity with legal force).
and in nature, where it can evolve the next. It is this genetic variability,
along with that of wild species, which
and adapt to changing conditions or U
allows scientists to breed improved
competition with other species.
strains of crops and livestock, and fish
As custodians of the world’s for aquaculture. In the 1840s, genetic
biodiversity, farmers can develop uniformity left the Irish potato crop As countries shift away from the
and maintain local plants and trees vulnerable to potato blight, a highly production of local traditional foods,
and reproduce indigenous animals, virulent disease that wiped out the the food base often narrows. One
crop and led to over a million deaths way of protecting this resource is
ensuring their survival.
from starvation. Scientists later found through market forces. In the Andes
that some of the best mountains of Bolivia and Peru, sales
sources of resistance of the quinoa grain are on the rise.
International Treaty on Pl ant Genetic to blight came from is highly nutritious and gluten-
Resources for Food and Agriculture Latin America, where free wheat substitute sustained
The FAO International Treaty on Plant Genetic potatoes originated the Inca Empire but then fell into
Resources for Food and Agriculture enters into and where local disuse. Efforts by local farmers and
force on 29 June 2004. This legally binding farmers had selected community groups are helping to
instrument is crucial for sustainable agriculture. and planted disease- boost its production. Elsewhere,
It provides a framework for national, regional resistant varieties consumers are calling for organically
and international efforts to conserve and over millennia. grown heirloom varieties of fruits and
sustainably use plant genetic resources for food vegetables that are high in vitamins
and agriculture – and for sharing the benefits Farmers everywhere and taste good. From basmati rice
equitably, in line with the Convention on Biological possess priceless local in Pakistan to free-range native
Diversity. The Treaty contains two important and
knowledge, including chickens in South Africa, demand for
unique elements. First, it recognizes the enormous
a highly tuned sense indigenous foods is helping farmers
contribution made by farmers in all regions of the
of how to match the and processors to improve household
world towards the conservation and development
of plant genetic resources and identifies ways right variety or breed income while safeguarding
of protecting and promoting Farmers’ Rights. with a particular biodiversity.
Second, it establishes a multilateral system of agricultural
access and benefit sharing. This will ensure ecosystem. In past
that countries have access to some of the most years, the genetic
important plant genetic resources needed for resources of poor
food security. It identifies a range of benefits countries were
to be shared on a multilateral basis – benefits used for crop and
like information exchange, technology transfer animal breeding,
and access, building capacity at local levels, and often with no benefit
ea r
returning to those
Benefits are targeted mainly to developing
i rley
countries. Today,
6/ Sh
the contribution
transition, to help ensure that they will have the
/2
FAO
protection. ü
World Food Day
Chief, Unit for Liaison
enhance
with National Committees
the knowledge of Tel.: (+39) 06 570 54166
farmers on how to Fax: (+39) 06 570 53210
safeguard ecosystems and improve [email protected]
AD/I/Y5418E/1/6.04/55000