SDGs recognize agrobiodiversity and genebanks

The final version (pdf) of the Post-2015 Development Agenda was posted online about a day or so back after an all-nighter in New York.

I’m glad to say Target 2.5, which highlights the importance of agricultural biodiversity, has survived intact. This includes a specific reference to genebanks, as also does an additional target (2.a) on funding. Here is the full text:

2.5 By 2020, maintain the genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants and farmed and domesticated animals and their related wild species, including through soundly managed and diversified seed and plant banks at the national, regional and international levels, and ensure access to and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, as internationally agreed

2.a Increase investment, including through enhanced international cooperation, in rural infrastructure, agricultural research and extension services, technology development and plant and livestock gene banks in order to enhance agricultural productive capacity in developing countries, in particular least developed countries and landlocked developing countries, in accordance with their respective programmes of action

This should make it a lot easier to raise money for genebanks in the future. To see how these particular targets relate to the overall goal of ending hunger and improving nutrition, here’s the full set of targets agreed under Goal 2:

sdgs

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