BioTrade Congress: Focus on sustainable production

The Third BioTrade Congress, organised by UNCTAD and the Convention on Biological Diversity, as part of the Twelfth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP12), at the Alpensia Convention Centre in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea concludes on Friday.

The congress, a parallel event at the Business and Biodiversity Forum, will discuss trends and emerging approaches for the sustainable production and commercialisation of biodiversity-based products and services ('BioTrade').

The issues being discussed are engaging businesses in achieving the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and sustainable development goals, the implications of the Nagoya Protocol for developing BioTrade and biodiversity businesses, practical tools for sustainable sourcing and use of biodiversity and sustainable supply and ethical demand from the business perspective.

As an internationally recognised tool for conserving biodiversity while ensuring inclusive economic growth and social development. BioTrade is at the center of the CBD's main objectives, which are: conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits derived from the use of genetic resources.

As such, BioTrade Congresses are a well-known platform for BioTrade and biodiversity stakeholders from the private sector, governments and civil society to share their experiences, best practices and challenges to strengthen links between them. Taking advantage of the entry into force of the Nagoya Protocol, UNCTAD and Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) will launch their 'Handbook on Intellectual Property Implications of the CBD and the Nagoya Protocol'.

A compilation of fifteen BioTrade case studies in Latin America will also be presented during a launch sponsored by UNCTAD and the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) at the CBD Business and Biodiversity Forum.