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FAO-Biotech-News <[log in to unmask]>
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FAO-Biotech-News <[log in to unmask]>
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Mon, 24 Feb 2020 17:30:14 +0000
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Dear Subscribers,

Here is Update 1-2020 of FAO-BiotechNews. As usual, we welcome any feedback. 

With best wishes

John Ruane
The Coordinator of FAO-BiotechNews, 24-2-2020
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO),
E-mail address: [log in to unmask] 
FAO Biotechnology website: http://www.fao.org/biotech/ (in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese and Russian)

*** NEWS *** (http://www.fao.org/biotech/biotech-news/en/)

1) UN General Assembly documents and resolutions

The 74th Session of the UN General Assembly recently considered a number of items where the preparatory documents and/or the resolutions adopted were relevant to biotechnologies. These included 'Agricultural technology for sustainable development' (document A/74/238 and resolution A/Res/74/215), 'Science, technology and innovation for sustainable development' (document A/74/230 and resolution A/Res/74/229), 'Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and its contribution to sustainable development' (document A/74/207 and resolution A/Res/74/221) and 'Agriculture development, food security and nutrition' (document A/74/237 and resolution A/Res/74/242). The documents and resolutions are available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese and Russian at https://www.un.org/en/ga/second/74/documentslist.shtml and https://www.un.org/en/ga/74/resolutions.shtml respectively.

2) Convention on Biological Diversity: Digital sequence information on genetic resources

The Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources was established/extended by decision 14/20 of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity at its 14th meeting in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt on 17-29 November 2018. The AHTEG will meet from 17 to 20 March 2020 in Montreal, Canada. Documents for the meeting are available at https://www.cbd.int/meetings/DSI-AHTEG-2020-01. More information on the background and ongoing work at the Convention on Biological Diversity related to the issue of digital sequence information on genetic resources is available at https://www.cbd.int/dsi-gr/ (in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese and Russian). Contact [log in to unmask] for further information.

3) Synthetic biology at the Convention on Biological Diversity

During the 14th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Parties agreed on a number of activities related to synthetic biology (decision 14/19). One of these was to extend the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Synthetic Biology, with renewed membership and new terms of reference. The Expert Group met on 4-7 June 2019 in Montreal, Canada. Documents from the meeting, including the report, are available at https://www.cbd.int/meetings/SYNBIO-AHTEG-2019-01. Information on the background and activities carried out on synthetic biology under the Convention on Biological Diversity, including a calendar of activities for implementing the elements of decision 14/19, is available at https://bch.cbd.int/synbio/. Contact [log in to unmask] for more information.

4) Aarhus Convention/Cartagena Protocol roundtable on LMOs/GMOs

On 16-18 December 2019, the 3rd joint roundtable on public awareness, access to information and public participation regarding living modified organisms/genetically modified organisms (LMOs/GMOs) took place in Geneva, Switzerland. It was organized under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity.  Presentations and documents from the meeting are now available, including the 5-page 'Chair's Summary'. See https://www.unece.org/index.php?id=50759 or contact [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask] for more information. 

5) International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources meeting 

The 8th Session of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) took place in Rome on 11-16 November 2019. One of the items on the agenda was 'Consideration of digital sequence information in accordance with Resolution 13/2017'. By Resolution 13/2017, the Governing Body invited contracting parties, other governments, relevant stakeholders and individuals with relevant expertise to provide information regarding "digital sequence information" on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. Information documents IT/GB-8/19/16.1/Inf.1 and IT/GB-8/19/16.1/Inf.1Add.1 contain the submissions of information and views received before and after 17 May 2019 respectively. These documents, as well as the meeting report, are available at http://www.fao.org/plant-treaty/meetings/meetings-detail/en/c/1111365/. The ITPGRFA is an FAO international instrument that promotes the conservation and sustainable use of agricultural biological diversity of plants which entered into force in 2004. Contact [log in to unmask] for more information.

6) FAO biosafety project in Sri Lanka

At the request of the Government of Sri Lanka, FAO has been providing technical assistance to the country in strengthening its institutional and human capacities for the implementation of the National Biosafety Framework and hence the safe handling of living modified organisms (LMOs) or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). It is doing this through a four-year project which began in 2017 on 'Implementation of the National Biosafety Framework in Accordance with the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety'. The project is being implemented by the Ministry of Environment and Wildlife Resources and FAO. As part of the project, a biosafety newsletter is published twice a year in English, Sinhalese and Tamil. The latest version of the newsletter (January 2020) is available at http://www.fao.org/publications/card/en/c/CA7443T. For more information about the project, contact [log in to unmask] 

7) The innovation landscape of plant biotechnology

As part of its Economic Research Working Paper series, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) recently published "Global roots of innovation in plant biotechnology" by G.D. Graff and I. Hamdan-Livramento. The 43-page paper aims to trace the evolution of the global innovation landscape of plant biotechnology in recent decades. It uses information from patent documents and scientific publications to identify the sources of innovation in plant biotechnology, where they are located and how they connect to each other. Available at https://www.wipo.int/publications/en/details.jsp?id=4473 

8) Implications of synthetic biology for BioTrade 

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) recently published a 39-page study entitled "Synthetic biology and its potential implications for BioTrade and access and benefit-sharing". Synthetic biology was identified as an emerging issue meriting further research at the first meeting of the UNCTAD BioTrade Initiative Stakeholder Steering Committee meeting on 17 May 2018. This study was developed based on this request in order to provide guidance and further comprehension of the topic, especially its implications for BioTrade (which refers to activities of collection, production, transformation and commercialization of goods and services derived from native biodiversity under the criteria of environmental, social and economic sustainability). See https://unctad.org/en/pages/PublicationWebflyer.aspx?publicationid=2554 or contact [log in to unmask] for more information.

9) FAO/IAEA Animal Production and Health Newsletter 71
 
The January 2020 newsletter from the Animal Production and Health Section of the Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture is now available. The 40-page newsletter, issued twice a year, gives an overview of past and upcoming training courses, meetings, projects, news stories and publications related to their work which is in three main areas: animal nutrition, animal reproduction, breeding and genetics and animal health. See http://www-naweb.iaea.org/nafa/aph/public/newsletters-aph.html or contact [log in to unmask] for more information.

10) FAO/IAEA Plant Breeding and Genetics Newsletter 44
 
The January 2020 newsletter from the Plant Breeding and Genetics Section of the Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture is now available. The 40-page newsletter gives an overview of their past and upcoming events (meetings, training courses etc.), ongoing projects and publications and is issued twice a year. See http://www-naweb.iaea.org/nafa/pbg/public/newsletters-pbg.html or contact [log in to unmask] for more information.

*** EVENTS *** (http://www.fao.org/biotech/biotech-events/en/)

3-7 August 2020, Medellín, Colombia. The genomics of tree adaptation to environmental changes. The goal of this five-day course is to bring together international renowned experts in theoretical and experimental approaches on the ecological genomics of trees in order to identify modern concepts, pitfalls, models and methods that are widely being used or are currently being developed to study climate change genetic adaptation in tree species. This International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) course is organized in collaboration with the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Deadline for applicants is 3 May 2020. See https://www.icgeb.org/tree-adaptation-course/ or contact [log in to unmask] for more information. 

9-11 September 2020, Cape Town, South Africa. Fall armyworm control: Challenges and opportunities for the use of biopesticides. Organized by the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), this workshop will provide information on the efforts that have been made so far in developing biopesticides for fall armyworm control, while exploring the challenges and opportunities for the development and incorporation of these products into integrated pest management strategies. Deadline for applicants is 31 March 2020. See https://www.icgeb.org/fall-armyworm-control-workshop/ or contact [log in to unmask] for more information.

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