Robert Bertram

Upon a proposal by the Netherlands, on behalf of the OECD group comprising the regions of Europe, North America and South West Pacific, delegates elected Robert Bertram (US) as the Chair of the CGRFA.
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Chair Bertram highlighted the achievement of creating the ITPGR, giving the agricultural sector a clear voice on biodiversity issues, and paid a tribute to the contribution of the outgoing CGRFA Chair and Chair of the Treaty's Interim Committee, Amb.
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Chair Bertram then called for comments on guidance regarding: endorsement of the process for undertaking the preparation of the country-driven first Report on the State of the World's AnGR; a meeting of the ITWG-AnGR in 2003 to review progress and in 2005 to review the first draft; and recognizing the need for extra- budgetary resources.
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Chair Bertram noted broad support for the Report on the State of the World's AnGR, the FAO training efforts, the country-driven approach and the need to stay on schedule.He highlighted: prioritization of AnGR; lessons to be learned from the PGRFA experience, while taking into account the special needs of AnGR; the importance of partners and work at the regional level; and the need for extra-budgetary support.He noted the interest in developing a treaty on AnGR and suggested keeping the issue on the agenda.
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FUTURE WORK OF THE ITWG-ANGR: On Monday, Chair Bertram invited the regions to nominate members for the ITWG-AnGR.Angola, on behalf of the African region, nominated Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, Eritrea and Mali.Portugal, on behalf of the European region, nominated Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Turkey.Japan, on behalf of the Asian region, nominated China, India, the Republic of Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.Brazil, on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC), nominated Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay.Iran, on behalf of the Near East region, nominated Egypt, Iran and Sudan, requesting a note in the meeting's report for consideration of an increase in their regional representation at CGRFA-10.Samoa, on behalf of the South West Pacific region, selected New Zealand and Samoa later in the week.The US, on behalf of the North American region, nominated Canada and the US.
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Chair Bertram summarized the discussions noting: the absence of a funding mechanism; the need for a system allowing countries to tailor reporting to their needs; the concept of higher order indicators; and interest in prioritization and work at the regional level.
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In concluding the discussion, Chair Bertram noted delegates' concerns regarding: lack of expected funding for implementation at the country level; the FAO's not following the ITWG-PGR's recommendations; the number of activities to be carried out; creation of an advisory group; the need to enhance partnerships; and the need for movement on the funding strategy.
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Chair Bertram recognized two opposing positions and proposed forming a group of Friends of the Chair consisting of two representatives per region.
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FUTURE WORK OF THE ITWG-PGR AND ELECTION OF ITS MEMBERS: On Wednesday afternoon, Chair Bertram called for nominations for the ITWG-PGR The Asian region nominated India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand.The African region selected Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia.The European region nominated Germany, Italy, Norway, Poland and Portugal.GRULAC selected Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela.The Middle East region nominated Egypt, Iran and Jordan.The South West Pacific region selected Australia and Samoa. On Thursday afternoon, delegates approved the work of the ITWG-PGR for the next biennium, as outlined by Chair Bertram, including providing advice on: implementation and monitoring of the GPA; the facilitating mechanism for the GPA's implementation; the international plant genetic resources networks; and the issue of strengthening seed quality and production.
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Chair Bertram noted agreement on maintaining and strengthening cooperation with the CBD, especially on traditional knowledge and invasive alien species.On GURTs he noted divergent views, as most see them as opposing the objectives of the ITPGR, while others stress the technology is still in the research stage.
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Chair Bertram acknowledged two views, the first calling for the immediate development of the code and the second suggesting an initial inventory of needs.He then proposed to conduct a study to determine the areas requiring attention before deciding on the need for revising the draft code of conduct.
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Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, the EU, and Iran, on behalf of G-77/China, called for approving the report by acclamation and expressed their appreciation to the rapporteur, Chair Bertram, the delegates who assisted him and the Secretariat.The G-77/China underlined: the importance of developing a funding mechanism for the GPA's implementation;
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Chair Bertram thanked delegates for their hard work and constructive approach and gaveled the meeting to a close at 1:20 am.
...
Under the able chairmanship of Robert Bertram and with the assistance of an experienced Secretariat, delegates moved through the numerous agenda items quickly, in contrast to the preceding meeting of the Interim Committee for the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGR), whose pace was considerably slower.

Upon a proposal by the Netherlands, on behalf of the OECD group comprising the regions of Europe, North America and South West Pacific, delegates elected Robert Bertram (US) as the Chair of the CGRFA.
...
Chair Bertram highlighted the achievement of creating the ITPGR, giving the agricultural sector a clear voice on biodiversity issues, and paid a tribute to the contribution of the outgoing CGRFA Chair and Chair of the Treaty's Interim Committee, Amb.
...
Chair Bertram then called for comments on guidance regarding: endorsement of the process for undertaking the preparation of the country-driven first Report on the State of the World's AnGR; a meeting of the ITWG-AnGR in 2003 to review progress and in 2005 to review the first draft; and recognizing the need for extra-budgetary resources.
...
Chair Bertram noted broad support for the Report on the State of the World's AnGR, the FAO training efforts, the country-driven approach and the need to stay on schedule.He highlighted: prioritization of AnGR; lessons to be learned from the PGRFA experience, while taking into account the special needs of AnGR; the importance of partners and work at the regional level; and the need for extra-budgetary support.He noted the interest in developing a treaty on AnGR and suggested keeping the issue on the agenda.
...
FUTURE WORK OF THE ITWG-ANGR: On Monday, Chair Bertram invited the regions to nominate members for the ITWG-AnGR.Angola, on behalf of the African region, nominated Algeria, Botswana, Cameroon, Eritrea and Mali.Portugal, on behalf of the European region, nominated Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Turkey.Japan, on behalf of the Asian region, nominated China, India, the Republic of Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.Brazil, on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC), nominated Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay.Iran, on behalf of the Near East region, nominated Egypt, Iran and Sudan, requesting a note in the meeting's report for consideration of an increase in their regional representation at CGRFA-10.Samoa, on behalf of the South West Pacific region, selected New Zealand and Samoa later in the week.The US, on behalf of the North American region, nominated Canada and the US.
...
Chair Bertram summarized the discussions noting: the absence of a funding mechanism; the need for a system allowing countries to tailor reporting to their needs; the concept of higher order indicators; and interest in prioritization and work at the regional level.
...
In concluding the discussion, Chair Bertram noted delegates' concerns regarding: lack of expected funding for implementation at the country level; the FAO's not following the ITWG-PGR's recommendations; the number of activities to be carried out; creation of an advisory group; the need to enhance partnerships; and the need for movement on the funding strategy.
...
Chair Bertram recognized two opposing positions and proposed forming a group of Friends of the Chair consisting of two representatives per region.
...
FUTURE WORK OF THE ITWG-PGR AND ELECTION OF ITS MEMBERS: On Wednesday afternoon, Chair Bertram called for nominations for the ITWG-PGR The Asian region nominated India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand.
...
On Thursday afternoon, delegates approved the work of the ITWG-PGR for the next biennium, as outlined by Chair Bertram, including providing advice on: implementation and monitoring of the GPA; the facilitating mechanism for the GPA's implementation; the international plant genetic resources networks; and the issue of strengthening seed quality and production.
...
Chair Bertram noted agreement on maintaining and strengthening cooperation with the CBD, especially on traditional knowledge and invasive alien species.On GURTs he noted divergent views, as most see them as opposing the objectives of the ITPGR, while others stress the technology is still in the research stage.
...
Chair Bertram acknowledged two views, the first calling for the immediate development of the code and the second suggesting an initial inventory of needs.He then proposed to conduct a study to determine the areas requiring attention before deciding on the need for revising the draft code of conduct.
...
Cameroon, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, the EU, and Iran, on behalf of G-77/China, called for approving the report by acclamation and expressed their appreciation to the rapporteur, Chair Bertram, the delegates who assisted him and the Secretariat.The G-77/China underlined:
...
Chair Bertram thanked delegates for their hard work and constructive approach and gaveled the meeting to a close at 1:20 am.
...
Under the able chairmanship of Robert Bertram and with the assistance of an experienced Secretariat, delegates moved through the numerous agenda items quickly, in contrast to the preceding meeting of the Interim Committee for the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGR), whose pace was considerably slower.