Agricultural biodiversity (agrobiodiversity) is the basis of global food security. It sustains livelihoods and helps to secure the areas in which people live. Agrobiodiversity provides building materials and fuels, clothing, medicaments and means of transport, and it shapes multi-functional agro-ecosystems.

Plant and animal genetic resources are the most important source for the work carried out by breeders and farmers in developing crops and domestic animal breeds. Similarly, biological diversity in agriculture underpins the natural potential for adaptation to changes in the environment and in ecosystems.

Smallholders – and particularly women – in Africa, Asia and Latin America are highly dependent on genetic resources. Plant varieties and locally adapted animal breeds help them to survive even in difficult climatic conditions and on infertile soil.

Agrobiodiversity as a key issue of development cooperation

In implementing the German government’s Programme of Action 2015, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (IT), Germany contributes to the sustainable securing of the global food supply – and hence also to the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). At the same time the German government is contributing to the implementation of the human right to food.

Adoption and implementation of the CBD and IT have involved discussion of a range of agrobiodiversity issues. These relate to access and ownership rights, benefit sharing, the conservation of genetic diversity locally (in situ) and in gene banks and remuneration of the contribution made to breeding by previous farming generations.

The aim of GIZ’s activities is to ensure that agrobiodiversity is recognised as an important issue and accorded a higher profile in development cooperation. On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), GIZ therefore advises on the implementation of IT, in particular with regard to Farmers’ Rights. It organises and arranges training courses and public awareness work on these issues, cooperating in this with various institutions such as the non-profit organisation Capacity Building International (InWEnt), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Bioversity International institute, the F. Nansen Institute in Norway and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).

In addition GIZ advises on implementation of the principle of “conservation through use”, which the CBD declares as one of its goals. This includes the utilisation of traditional knowledge and accumulated experience, for example in the marketing of neglected vegetable varieties, cooperation with business and the elaboration of proposals for development cooperation measures.

Further information on this subject

• Issue Papers
  Issue Papers
• Publications: Securing food
  Publications
• Links: Securing food
  Links