Findings of EU Project On Conservation Of Genetic Resources Due Out In June

The findings, conclusions and preliminary recommendations of a European Commission initiative on the conservation and sustainable use of genetic diversity are to be presented in June, the Commission has announced.

The “Preparatory action on EU [European Union] plant and animal genetic resources in agriculture” followed an initiative tabled by the European Parliament, and was launched in July 2014 for a period of two years, according to the commission.

The EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 [pdf] includes an action to conserve Europe’s agricultural genetic diversity. The preparatory action is meant to support the EU “in recognizing the potentials for added value in the field of conservation and sustainable use of agricultural genetic resources,” according to the preparatory action webpage.

The project is expected to “identify, describe, and analyse activities undertaken in the EU Member States regarding the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources in agriculture and forestry,” and “identify missing links, and actions to be addressed in future actions regarding the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources in agriculture and forestry.”

The analysis “may contribute to developing a strategy for the conservation of genetic diversity in the EU,” said the webpage.

The study covers the 28 EU member states and four areas: plant genetic resources, animal genetic resources, forest genetic resources, and microbial & invertebrate genetic resources.