Conservation and sustainable use of Genetic …...BION-Conference 2014 3 Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture What is it about? • Since the 1900s, some 75 percent of plant

Conservation and Sustainable Use of

Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

in Germany

BION-Conference 2014 1 www.bmel.de

Thomas Meier, BMEL

What is it about?

CBD Art. 2; Use of Terms:

For the purposes of this Convention:

“Genetic resources" means genetic material of

actual or potential value



for humanity/mankind?

Plant genetic resources for food and agriculture

means any genetic material of plant origin of

actual or potential value

for food and agriculture.



What is it about?

• Since the 1900s, some 75 percent of plant genetic diversity has

been lost.

• 30 percent of livestock breeds are at risk of extinction

• Today, 75 percent of the world’s food is generated from only 12

plants and five animal species.

• Of the 4 percent of the 250 000 to 300 000 known edible plant

species, only 150 to 200 are used by humans. Only three - rice,

maize and wheat - contribute nearly 60 percent of calories and

proteins obtained by humans from plants.



What is it about?

Why should we care?

are

• Resources for breeding

• Resources for future needs in

food production, renewables, bio-ekonomie,

nature protection

• Cultural heritage




When did we start?

• 1972 - UN Conference on the Human

Environment, Stockholm

Recommendation 39:

Governments, in cooperation with the Secretary-General of

the UN and FAO, agree to an international program to

preserve the world's genetic resources

• 1983 Commission on Genetic Resources

for Food and Agriculture established

BMELV-Concept on Conservation and Sustainable Use

of Genetic Resources for Food, Agriculture and Forestry (published in 2000)

• recognises, that conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources is an essential part of sustainable agriculture.

• lists the foundations, framework, programmes, measures and necessary future actions

• at national, European and international level

• and forms the basis for sectorial work programmes


When did we start?

This involves:

• Securing and expanding biodiversity

conservation infrastructure;

• Better linkage between conservation

and use of biological diversity

• Strengthening international

cooperation.

National Agrobiodiversity Strategy

The vision is to conserve agricultural biodiversity as a basic

resource for food and agriculture, innovatively exploit its

potential and sustainably use its components


When did we start?


Where do we stand?

Microorganisms

and

Invertebrates


The objective is

• to conserve agricultural biodiversity as a

basic resource for food and agriculture,

• to exploit innovatively its potential and

• to use sustainably its components.

This involves

1. Securing and expanding biodiversity

conservation infrastructure;

2. Better linkage between conservation and use of

biological diversity

3. Strengthening international cooperation.

Where do we stand?

Securing and expanding conservation infrastructure


Where do we stand?


Bild von German Genebank for Fruit Crops


Where do we stand?

01.04.2015 Folie 13



Where do we stand?



Where do we stand?



Where do we stand?


Deutsche

Genbank Reben

Deutsche

Genbank Obst

• European Cooperative

Programme for Plant

Genetic Resources

(ECPGR)

• European Search Catalogue

for Plant Genetic Resources

(EURISCO)

• European Central Crop

Databases (ECCDB)

• European Genebank

Integrated System (AEGIS).


Where do we stand?


Where do we stand?


Support FB-TGR

Steering Council

Executive Office FLI

Documentation IBV/BLE

Notified Partners

BMELV Federal Gov. Land 1 Land 2 Land 3 Land …

Farm Animal Genbank


Where do we stand?

http://www.corporatedesign.bmelv.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Bilder/Bilderpool/print/themen_print/Landwirtschaft_und_Laendliche_Raeume/Themen_24-Huhn.jpg

Better linkage between conservation and use

Why more than ex-situ conservation?

• Adaptation to changing environment – new

diseases, climate change, production methods

• Keep diversity of product range – cultural heritage,

market niches

• Keep knowledge about cultivation and use

• Environmental effects of larger range of crops

(soil fertility, pollinators, wild life)


Where do we stand?



Where do we stand?

How?

→Showcase opportunities through pilot and

demonstration projects

Projects since 2006 PGR AnGR FGR AqGR

Number 34 20 20 4

Federal Contribution [€] 5,4 Mio 2,5 Mio. 2,3 Mio. 0,5 Mio.


„Further development of the ,Red List of Endangered Native Crops‘ for

vegetables“

Humboldt-University, Berlin

Objectives:

• Desk research for cultivated vegetables species and varieties between

1840 and 1950

• Evaluation of the species following the criteria for inclusion to the ,Red

List‘ and preparation of species profiles

• Evaluation of availability of these species

• Recommendations for future development of the ,Red List’


Where do we stand?


„Acorn-fed pigs in free-range production“

Eichelschwein GmbH, Freising; TU München-Weihenstephan


Where do we stand?



Where do we stand?

• Agri-Environmental-Schemes in the Framework of Rural

Development Programs

• Regions (Federal states/ Länder) are in charge

• Joint Task for the Improvement of Agricultural Structure

and Coastal Protection

- Providing federal money for selected measures

• Overall 2.5 Billion per year, including EU- and national

funds



Where do we stand?

Joint Task for the Improvement of Agricultural

Structure and Coastal Protection

• Diversity of genetic resources in agriculture 1. Plant genetic resources

2. Animal genetic resources

• Other measures

• Crop diversity

• Extensive use of permanent grassland

• Plant diversity in grassland

• Planting and maintenance of orchard meadow

Vitis vinifera

subsp. sylvestris

Wildrebe

Beta vulgaris

subsp.

maritima

Wildrübe

Malus

sylvestris

Wildapfel Erhebungen

Apium graveolens

Wildsellerie Erhebungen

In-situ-Conservation (genetic reserves)


Where do we stand?


WWW.GENRES.DE


Thank you for your attention!

Documents

Conservation and sustainable use of Genetic …...BION-Conference 2014 3 Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture What is it about? • Since the 1900s, some 75 percent of plant