Over 300 agricultural specialists and environmental leaders from 60+ countries gathered in Kunming, Yunnan province, this week for the third International Agrobiodiversity Congress. Against a backdrop of rising climate challenges and food insecurity, participants emphasized the urgent need to leverage nature-based solutions through enhanced global cooperation.
The congress, hosted in one of Asia's most biodiverse regions, spotlighted six critical action areas:
Economic growth through biodiverse crops
Climate change mitigation strategies
Environmental health improvements
Nutrition-focused agricultural systems
Gender-inclusive farming practices
Innovative conservation technologies
Marcela Quintero of Bioversity International-CIAT stressed: "Our plates must reflect biodiversity to truly address malnutrition. Diverse crops aren't just ecological assets – they're nutritional powerhouses waiting to be utilized."
Yunnan's unique position as home to 18,000+ plant species provided a living case study for attendees, demonstrating how regional biodiversity conservation efforts contribute to global food security objectives.
