Zheng Yongqi: ABS of Forestry & Grassland Plant Genetic Resources: Current Status and Future Trends

Wild plant genetic resources for food and agriculture serve as the foundation for human survival, and their protection and sustainable use are crucial. In order to conserve and ensure the sustainable use of all plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, and to fairly and equitably share the benefits arising from their use, the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) and the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences (BAAFS) jointly organized “The Third Symposium on Conservation and Benefit Sharing of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture” on May 23, 2023 in Beijing.

The symposium aimed to serve as a platform for fruitful discussions and valuable insights into the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. It highlighted the need for continued efforts to protect and manage these resources effectively and to ensure that their benefits are shared fairly and equitably. The symposium also emphasized the importance of international cooperation and collaboration in achieving these objectives and the role of scientific research in supporting sustainable agriculture and food security in the background of China’s national strategy for Seeds Industry Revitalization.

Professor Yongqi ZHENG, Professor of Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, delivered the keynote speech on “Acquisition and Benefit Sharing of Forestry & Grassland Plant Genetic Resources: Current Status and Future Trends”. Prof. Zheng’s statement is summarized and shared as follows:

The speech was divided into several sections: the general situation of the institution, the situation of forest and grass genetic resources, the acquisition of genetic resources, the case introduction of genetic resources acquisition, trends and suggestions.

In terms of the approval requirements of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration for the acquisition and benefit sharing of forest and grass genetic resources, an application, organization code certificate and informed consent shall be submitted for the collection and export of forest and grass genetic resources. To carry out the activities of collecting forest and grass genetic resources, it is necessary to provide a cooperation agreement on collection, transshipment (with partners), and an international cooperation agreement if foreign parties are involved. In addition, the examination and approval department of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration also invite experts to review international cooperation agreements.

The following problems exist in the acquisition and benefit sharing of genetic resources of forestry and grassland plants in China:

First, in the current laws and regulations, the object of protection is not comprehensive. It is reflected in attaching importance to the existing value and ignoring the potential value.

Second, there is a big gap between the import and export benefits of resources. Most of the imported resources in China are used for direct production, with little re-innovation and insufficient utilization of resources. However, the exported genetic resources are often used as breeding materials abroad, which has produced good benefits. But China, as a resource provider, has not received commensurate benefits.

Third, the existing benefit-sharing system is imperfect. There is a lack of standardized benefit-sharing agreement model of forest and grass genetic resources in China, which should clearly stipulates the use of resources, the way of benefit sharing, how to provide feedback information, how to implement supervision and other specific provisions, and forms a standardized benefit-sharing system of forest and grass genetic resources.

Translator: Victoria

Checked by Richard

Editor: Victoria

Contact: v10@cbcgdf.org; +8617319454776

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