Adapting agriculture to climate change: The role of crop wild relatives

ABSTRACT: This Statement summarizes the results of the third in a series of consultations between

agricultural scientists (in particular those interested in the conservation and use of crop

diversity in plant improvement) and climate scientists on how to adapt agriculture to climate

change. The first meeting, also held at Bellagio (3-7 September 2007), looked at the

Conservation and Use of Global Crop Genetic Resources in the Face of Climate Change. It

identified three major challenges facing the adaptation process: collecting crop diversity

before it disappears, using it to breed better adapted crops, and informing key players of the

increased need for the conservation and effective use of crop genetic resources in the face of

climate change.