Just noticed I haven’t posted in over three weeks. Sorry about that. But there is a good reason: work.
First there was the Global Crop Diversity Summit in Berlin.
Then there was the 10th Session of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture in Rome. The Summit communique was presented to delegates, who welcomed its call for more support to genebanks.
Then there was the Phase 2 meeting of the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS) in New York. That vision will arguably depend on the sort of access to genetic diversity that genebanks provide and the Treaty facilitates.
And now of course there is COP28 in Dubai, with its particular focus on the need for transforming agrifood systems.
Which takes us back to the Summit and its call that we need to empower genebanks if that transformation is going to work. And to the Treaty. And indeed to VACS and its focus on less-known crops.
And actually there has been good news already in Dubai bringing all those strands together. Check out the last item on this list of projects that will be supported by Norway.
But don’t worry, normal service will be renewed here soon.