Africa-Press – Mauritius. The role of plant genetic resources in food and agriculture is pivotal, serving as a cornerstone for global food system sustainability, bolstering food security and resilience, and driving forward agricultural innovation.
This statement was made, today, by the Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Mr Teeruthraj Hurdoyal, during the opening ceremony of a validation workshop on ‘Implementing the Multilateral System of Access and Benefit-Sharing of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture’, held at Boname Hall, in Réduit.
The Assistant Director of Agri-Food and Crop Sector (Agricultural Services), Dr Preeaduth Sookar; the Principal Scientific Officer, Agronomy Division, Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Ms Indranee Buldawoo; and other personalities were present at the event.
In his address, Minister Hurdoyal underscored the crucial significance of plant genetic resources, highlighting the cultural importance within Mauritius of valuing, preserving, and sharing these resources.
He emphasised the imperative to safeguard these resources established under his Ministry in 1995 through the National Gene Bank and the National Field Gene Bank, marking substantial strides in their preservation and protection to avoid potential threats to local food production.
Addressing the urgency, the Minister spoke about a national policy on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. He assured that such a policy would serve as a comprehensive mechanism to coordinate and improve activities related to the use and exchange of these resources within Mauritius.
Stressing the significance of fulfilling treaty obligations, he highlighted the potential for enhancing local food security, fostering innovation, and ensuring sustainable utilisation and conservation of these vital resources.
He further dwelt on the ongoing capacity strengthening project funded by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, aimed at supporting the multilateral system’s implementation while ensuring transparency, encouraging research on genetic resources, and benefiting all stakeholders involved.
He outlined the benefits arising from this capacity strengthening project emphasising the development of a national legal framework. This framework, he underlined, is poised not only to enhance the visibility of plant genetic resources within the local community but also to substantially contribute to local food security amidst changing environmental conditions, specifically benefiting the planting community.
Minister Hurdoyal moreover stressed the non-monetary advantages of the project, including increased access to a broader pool of plant genetic resources crucial for breeders and farmers.
This access, he added, is anticipated to stimulate heightened activities in research, conservation, and sustainable use, promoting advancements beneficial for all stakeholders involved.
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