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  • Side Events (24)

Meetings

  • BS COP MOP 6 (24)

Subjects

Aichi Targets

Date

Side Event

SUSTAINABLE FARMING, FOOD SECURITY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

Organizer
The Public Research and Regulation Initiative, The International Food Policy Research Institute /Program for Biosafety Systems, The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications , The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics

Date and Time
2 October 2012 13:15 - 14:45

Meeting
Sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

Background: The world is facing very daunting challenges. Over 1 billion people are malnourished, often resulting in chronic diseases and premature deaths. Agriculture burdens the environment through pesticides, fertilizers, irrigation, ploughing and conversion of natural habitats. This situation will be compounded by the further growth of the world population. By 2050 the world will have to produce over 50% more food, feed, fibre and biomass on a smaller agricultural area and under the stress of climate change. Farmers will have to produce more with less impact on the environment. In other words, farmers need crops that give more yield per hectare, make better use of water, are less dependent on pesticides and fertilisers, have enhanced nutritional value, etc. As was already recognised in the Earth Summit in 1992, this immense challenge cannot be solved by conventional approaches alone, but requires the involvement of new technologies, including as modern biotechnology. The side event will present the experiences with GM crops since 1992, and will look ahead at the years to come. The side event will be complemented by the possibility of a visit to a site where GM crops and non GM crops are grown and where delegates can talk with Indian small holder farmers who have grown GM crops. Bus transport will be arranged from and to the HICC. These visits will be held in the mornings of 2 and 3 October. The bus will return to the HICC before 10 am. Interested delegates can send requests to participate in this visit to: info@prri.net with copy to b.choudhary@cgiar.org.