The Position Paper, entitled “An Integrated Approach to Genetic Resources in Support of the CGIAR’s Mission”, reflects the consolidated vision developed collectively by the entire genetic resources community of the CGIAR. The Position Paper proposes a coherent approach to the management of agricultural biodiversity that includes forestry, livestock, aquatic, microbial as well as crop plant genetic resources, all encompassed within an ecosystem perspective and a complementary strategy for their conservation and enhanced use. In preparation for the imminent restructuring of the CGIAR, the Inter-Centre Working Group on Genetic Resources - ICWG-GR (which is the steering committee for SGRP and is composed of representatives from each of the CGIAR Centres and FAO working with genetic resources) met, together with a few invited external experts, for a week-long workshop in Mombasa, Kenya to discuss options for the future role of the CGIAR in the field of genetic resources for food and agriculture. The outcome of the Mombasa workshop was a coherent, integrated vision for genetic resources within the CGIAR to enhance the Centres contribution to our partners and stakeholders worldwide in this area of critical importance in which the CGIAR has historically played a central role. By promoting this vision, the ICWG-GR is keen to help improve the CGIAR's ability to function as a true System, and to mobilize the potential of the in-trust germplasm collections and other genetic resources to do what they are meant to do: increase production, improve livelihoods and adapt to change.

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