The Position Paper, entitled “An Integrated Approach to Genetic Resources in Support of the CGIAR’s Mission”, reflects the consolidated vision developed collectively by the entire genetic resources community of the CGIAR. The Position Paper proposes a coherent approach to the management of agricultural biodiversity that includes forestry, livestock, aquatic, microbial as well as crop plant genetic resources, all encompassed within an ecosystem perspective and a complementary strategy for their conservation and enhanced use. In preparation for the imminent restructuring of the CGIAR, the Inter-Centre Working Group on Genetic Resources - ICWG-GR (which is the steering committee for SGRP and is composed of representatives from each of the CGIAR Centres and FAO working with genetic resources) met, together with a few invited external experts, for a week-long workshop in Mombasa, Kenya to discuss options for the future role of the CGIAR in the field of genetic resources for food and agriculture. The outcome of the Mombasa workshop was a coherent, integrated vision for genetic resources within the CGIAR to enhance the Centres contribution to our partners and stakeholders worldwide in this area of critical importance in which the CGIAR has historically played a central role. By promoting this vision, the ICWG-GR is keen to help improve the CGIAR's ability to function as a true System, and to mobilize the potential of the in-trust germplasm collections and other genetic resources to do what they are meant to do: increase production, improve livelihoods and adapt to change.

Capitalizing on Inter-Sectoral Complementarities: Fundamental commonalities across sectors have led SGRP to propose an integrated approach to management and use of genetic resources within the CGIAR, including crop, forestry, livestock, aquatic and microbial genetic resources. While recognizing that the biological and policy requirements of different sectors will also require individual approaches and research, there are also important complementarities to be tapped, not least of which is the ecosystem perspective enabled by this approach. This approach is harmonious with the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources’ Multi-Year Programme of Work (MYPOW). Additionally, the CGIAR crop-based Centres have to meet their commitments under their agreements with the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture through management of their ex situ crop collections that are held in-trust by the Centres for the global community. There are huge advantages and efficiencies to be gained from pooling the scientific and infrastructural strengths of the Centres to more effectively fulfil our global roles and responsibilities to conserve, study, and mobilize agricultural genetic resources for the benefit of the world’s poorest farmers.

Contributing to the Global System: Genetic resources activities in the CGIAR are an important component of the global system of conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources for food and agriculture. The CGIAR is a partner in a larger system of FAO, NARS, NGOs, private sector and development agencies. This global system is governed by the policy framework of the inter-governmental bodies of the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources and the Convention on Biological Diversity. The crop component is further governed by the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Both the crop and livestock sectors have a Global Plan of Action that was developed through a consultative process of national and international partners and adopted by the international community to implement their global responsibility in conservation, sustainable use and development of plant and animal genetic resources.

Forging Stronger Partnerships: An integrated approach to GR, involving all the Centres and a greatly expanded participation of national and regional partners, will build national research capacity, and target pressing national and regional issues identified by our partners, such as pre-breeding of locally-adapted improved varieties, exploiting the market potential of native fruits and underutilized crop species, mobilize genetic diversity to respond to climate change, expand the genetic base of food production, and enhance food security and nutrition for the urban and rural poor.