Today, the European Commission has adopted a Regulation which designates a European Union Reference Centre (‘EURC’) responsible for the scientific and technical contribution to the establishment or harmonisation of the methods for the preservation of endangered animal breeds, or the preservation of the genetic diversity existing within those breeds. This centre comes after the request from competent authorities of some Member States and the industry.

The scope of such EURC, which will start its work on 1 January 2023, will cover breeding animals of five species: bovine, ovine, caprine, porcine, and equine. Its key objectives are the facilitation of the breeding of endangered breeds and strengthening the cross-border activity by:

• laying down minimum criteria for classification of a breed as an endangered breed;
• developing or harmonising methods used for the in situ and ex situ conservation of endangered breeds or the preservation of the genetic diversity within those breeds;
• facilitating exchanges between Member States of information on the preservation of the breeds endangered breeds or the preservation of the genetic diversity within those breeds.

The tasks of such EURC, and the development and harmonisation of methods used for in situ, and ex situ, conservation of endangered breeds or the preservation of the genetic diversity within those breeds, are an outcome of the Action Plan of the European Genetic Resources Strategy. This was launched on 30 November 2021. The Strategy is a product of the GenRes Bridge Project, a Horizon 2020 project selected under the call topic “Joining forces for GenRes and biodiversity management”. The topic aimed at boosting capacities for more effective management, and use of genetic resources, as a basis for food and nutrition security in Europe and beyond. The conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources is linked to the EU Green Deal, and in particular, to the EU Biodiversity Strategy with Access and Benefit Sharing Regulation (ABS) and Farm to Fork Strategy, and other European policies like the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Animal Breeding Regulation.

The total cost of the project is 100.000€ annually. The EURC will be led by consortium of three partners located in the Netherlands, France, and Germany.