Pushing the needle: Animal Genetic Resources

AU-IBAR participated in the Thirteenth Regular Session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture held in Rome, Italy from the 20th – 22nd  November 2024. The technical meeting convenes 7 working groups drawn from across the globe to discuss various animal genetic resources issues.

The Africa region was represented by 9-member states namely Ethiopia, Chad, The Gambia, Ghana, Namibia, Nigeria, Malawi, Mozambique, Morocco, Tunisia and Zimbabwe. The continental office African Union InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) was represented by Dr. Mary Mbole-Kariuki. The African region spoke unanimously and highlighted key recommendations which included; strengthening of National, Sub-Regional and Regional coordination mechanisms for efficient implementation of the Global Plan of Action for AnGR; ensuring inclusion of region-specific regulations in relation to adoption and utilization of gene editing and other emerging technologies; Promoting awareness and building capacities on climate mitigation and adaptation tools and best practises as well as harmonizing the identification of new and emerging issues. 

Critical to the discussions was the need for all stakeholders to take affirmative action in raising awareness on the importance of Animal genetic resources and their significant contribution towards agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP). A call to action was made by member states to strengthen conservation of African indigenous livestock diversity, that will be the core of resilient production systems.