Practical recommendations for the developpment of genebanks
Various initiatives have focused on strengthening ex situ conservation activities across Europe. However several studies pointed out that many breeds in European countries have either no or insufficient material in genebanks.
The Ad Hoc Action “Strengthening national capacities towards the development of a
national Gene Bank strategy” main objective was utimately to define solutions and priorities to support national efforts towards the development of a national cryo-conservation strategy.
The current set of guidelines is based on the information collected and analyzed through this AHA. It aims at training actors to adopt good practices in ex situ conservation and contains practical recommendations for the development of genebanks. It can support relevant activities and initiatives in European countries by providing practical examples of solutions to relevant problems and gaps.
These guidelines are based on actions already implemented and could be therefore directly used in
similar cases, as proposed in the recommendations, or by creating initiatives based upon the original
models.
Presentation of the ERFP network
Presentation of the EUGENA network
Proper way of supports for endangered livestock breeds (SUBSIBREED)
project coordinator: Drago Kompan, NC Slovenia
project duration: since 2009
Quality management practices of gene banks for livestock: A global review
Ex situ conservation is used as a tool to help preserving the genetic diversity of livestock on the long run. Implementing an effective quality management is therefore of key importance in order to preserve effectively this material of key importance. Within the IMAGE project, a survey was s distributed through networks of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations that are associated with animal genetic resources. Ninety responses were received from 62 countries. The gene banks were predominantly public institutions, with the main goal of preventing breed extinction. Approximately 30% of the banks reported having a quality management system, 15 of which involved formal certification. Many other banks have plans to implement formal quality management within the next five years. Regarding specific aspects of quality management, more emphasis was placed on material entering the banks than on eventual utilization. Sharing of knowledge could standardize procedures and cooperating peers could evaluate the each other’s quality management systems.
To read the full article, follow this link: Gene bank quality management
Report of the Ad Hoc Action to support the development of EUGENA
Final Report of the ERFP Ad Hoc action to support the development of EUGENA, to identify candidate EUGENA genebanks, and improve the information about the genebanks in Europe.
This Ad Hoc action was set up in 2020 and led by F. Tejerina (Spain)
Rural development support measures for Animal Genetic Resources
Countries that are part of the European Union are drafting the last amendments to their new Rural Development Programmes (RDP) which will start beginning of 2023. The RDP can be a powerful tool to enhance the conservation of Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR), either by direct financial support or by measures that indirectly contribute to the conservation of AnGR (e.g. payments for maintaining high quality pastures through grazing, organic production, etc.). Non EU countries also have initiatives that fund AnGR conservation.
The National Coordinator of Serbia, Srdjan Stojanovic, under the umbrella of the ERFP In Situ (WG), initiated a-wide survey in Europe on national support measures for the conservation of local breeds. We hope that the results of this survey will provide new insights for the implementation of support measures for the conservation and sustainable use of AnGR across Europe. Local breeds are not only a source of genetic diversity in agriculture and livestock, they represent a national heritage and provide identity for the local community.
Seminar on conservation and use of farm animal genetic resources: challenges in practice
project coordinator: Sipke-Joost Hiemstra, NC Netherlands
project duration: May 2010 – October 2010
Study of origin and conservation strategy of the Pramenka sheep breeds as regional transboundary breeds
project coordinator: Ante Ivankovic, NC Croatia
project duration: since 2007
Various Aspects of Possible Evolution of in situ conservation in Europe (VAPE)
project coordinator:Dominique Planchenault / Eléonore Charvolin, France
project duration: since 2006
What is Inbreeding and why is it a problem ? 3 Infographics to explain
Infographic 1: What is inbreeding and why is it a problem?
Infographic 2 How to deal with inbreeding and relationship for breeders and owners?
Infographic 3 Managing inbreeding and relationship in a breed.