Preserving the diversity of genetic resources in agriculture

The conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources in agriculture are essential to the sustainable development of agricultural production and of rural areas. The Community programme on the conservation, characterisation, collection and utilisation of genetic resources in agriculture promotes genetic diversity and the exchange of information including close co-ordination between Member States and between the Member States and the European Commission. It also facilitates co-ordination in the field of international undertakings on genetic resources.

In the Biodiversity Action Plan for Agriculture [pdf] the Commission proposed to launch a new Community programme on the conservation, characterisation, collection and utilisation of genetic resources in agriculture.

The new programme, which has been established by Council Regulation (EC) No 870/2004 [pdf] adopted on 26 April 2004 [pdf], will promote genetic diversity and the exchange of information including close co-ordination between Member States and between the Member States and the European Commission for the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources in agriculture. It will also facilitate co-ordination in the field of international undertakings on genetic resources, in particular within the Convention on Biological Diversity, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture and the FAO's Global Plan of Action for the Conservation and Sustainable Utilisation of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

The budget allocated to this programme, which complements the actions co-funded by the new Rural Development Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 [Article 39(5)], amounts to EUR 10 million.

The 17 Actions. The Community Programme has given rise to 17 actions, involving 178 partners located in 25 Member States and 12 non EU countries, and a total EU co-funding of around EUR 8.9 million. The actions start in 2007 and have a maximum duration of 4 years.

Legal basis. In addition to Council Regulation (EC) No 870/2004, the framework for implementing this Community Programme consists also of the work programme and additional information.

Results of the calls for proposals. The results of the calls for proposals, including the selection procedure, for the co-funded actions are summarised in an overview. The actions were selected following two calls for proposals, published in the Official Journal of the European Union C183 on 26 July 2005, and C102 on 28 April 2006, respectively.

Technical assistance. A call for expression of interest for experts for supporting the implementation and monitoring of the co-funded actions and the Community Programme has been launched. Interested experts can find the details of this call, together with links to useful information and the necessary application forms. It is strongly recommended that interested experts consult the relevant documents and links in detail prior to submitting an application.

Committee. The Commission is assisted by a Management Committee on the conservation, characterisation, collection and utilisation of genetic resources in agriculture.

Previous programme. The former Community Programme, established by Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/1994, gave rise to 21 projects, with a total EU co-funding of around EUR 10 million. The projects started in 1994 and most of them had a duration of 4 years.

Publications. A brochure presenting an overview of the projects co-financed under the former Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/1994 was published in 2006.

Introduction

The 17 Actions

Legal basis

Results of the calls for proposals