WP5 Case study on genetic resources in food and agriculture

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feedback from farmers, in Slovenia interest in participating in AEMs is reported to berather low so far.As in the EU-15, AEMs for the conservation of plant genetic resources are rare.Outstanding examples are Hungary, where hectare payments support the cultivation ofspecial field crops, vegetables, fruits and grapes, and Slovenia, which as well supportsgrowing of autochthonous and traditional varieties of agricultural plants. As well in theSlovak Republic state subsidies are paid for the cultivation of land races of poppies,mountain rye and fruit trees.12
3 England3.1 Actors for the conservation of crop and livestock genetic resourcesDespite of being committed to fulfil international agreements and programmes of the EU,there has been no overall strategic policy concerning genetic resources for food andagriculture in the UK so far. The Department for Environment, Food and RuralAffairs (Defra) is responsible for policy in his area for England and Wales. The need forbetter cooperation and to develop an overarching framework for the conservation andsustainable use of genetic resources for food and agriculture has been recognised now. In2002, Defra has produced the UK Country Report on Farm Animal Genetic Resourceswith resulting policy recommendations for the FAO Report on the State of the World’sAnimal Genetic Resources. Defra carried out a review on its policy concerning geneticresources for food and agriculture, which involved discussions and a conference withstakeholders in this area, in order to develop a strategy for a national policy onagrobiodiversity.Activities for the conservation and use of genetic resources have been fragmented. WithinDefra, Research Policy as well as the International Division, the Sustainable Agricultureand Livestock Productions Directorate and other divisions touch the issue ofagrobiodiversity. Defra financially supports several ex situ collections, mainly forplants, and various research projects (e.g. exploring potential uses for breeds at risk forconservation grazing) connected to genetic resources, and keeps a national database onfarm animal breeds. Defra as well provides the secretariat to the UK Plant GeneticResources group (UKPGR), which includes research institutes, NGOs and privatecompanies, and is the UK National Focal Point for plant and farm animal geneticresources, representing the UK at the FAO. Several other government agencies, researchinstitutes, commercial breeding companies and individual breeders and NGOs areinvolved in activities in the area of conservation of crop and livestock genetic resources.According to Defras’ review there is need for identification and more information aboutall ex situ collections and in situ sites, and about livestock breeds at risk or rare cropvarieties and landraces, and a better coordination of efforts of stakeholders in this respect.The development of a national information system about genetic resources collections andsites could be an important contribution of Defra in future.Several quite important NGOs have been funded in the UK and play a crucial role for theconservation of breeds at risk:• Rare Breeds International (RBI) identifies breeds at risk and interacts withFAO at the global level and EAAP (European Regional Focal Point) at theEuropean level in developing international standards• The Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) promotes and conserves rare andthreatened breeds of farm livestock within the UK. It currently lists 79 breeds13
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WP5 Case study on genetic resources in food and agriculture

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