BLE's Information and Coordination Centre for Biodiversity (IBV) is leading the work package for the development of the strategy within the framework of the EU project.

Results of the workshop

With almost 120 participants from 34 nations, the workshop objective was to gather virtual feedback on the draft European Strategy in order to ensure that the content and especially the key messages address the expectations of the various stakeholders and users of genetic resources in Europe.

During the workshop, participants from the animal, plant and forest genetic resources domains had the opportunity to formulate and discuss key commitments for the Strategy up to 2030. The results of these discussions will subsequently serve as the basis for the further elaboration of the core objectives and the development of an action plan, which will form the core of the document.

In their opening speeches, the project manager of GenRes Bridge, Michele Bozzano, and the programme manager of the European Commission, Annette Schneegans, once again drew attention to the importance of agrobiodiversity and how important synergies between networks and various actors are in this context. In the subsequent presentation by BLE, the important role of Europe for the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources was emphasised.

Europe's importance

Even during the migration period, frequently shifted national borders and migration led to an overall European space for culture, values, livestock and crops. Through selection and breeding, a broad foundation of cultivated plants and livestock breeds emerged within Europe, which make up today's agrobiodiversity. The introduction of sustainability and the development of the first crop genebanks also originated in Europe and paved the way for Europe's leading role in innovation, research and breeding of plant and animal genetic resources, as well as sustainable forestry.

Action plans or strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources already exist at global level and at national level, e.g. in Germany, but such a strategy for Europe is still lacking. This will help to incentivise new policies, strengthen country and cross-sectoral information infrastructures and improve the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources for food and agriculture at the European level, as well as enhance Europe's central role in global efforts to strengthen conservation and use. Broad adoption by member states will be crucial to the future relevance and impact of the strategy.

Further information:
http://www.genresbridge.eu/about-us/events/event/feedback-workshop-on-the-european-genetic-resources-strategy/
http://www.genresbridge.eu/resources/european-strategy/