1. Supporting genetic diversity in agricultural policy Francis Fay Deputy Head of Unit Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission Seeds for a sustainable future seminar European Parliament 31.5.2011

2. The EU Programme 2006-2011 for genetic resources 17 actions plant and animal genetic resources 180 partners in 25 Member States and 12 non-EU countries started during 2007, running up to 4 years.

3. Objectives To promote genetic diversity in Europe, To conserve genetic resources in Europe, To contribute to Europe's input at international level on genetic resources.

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5. First Community Programme under former Council Regulation (EC) N° 1467/1994 21 co-funded projects: 17 plant + 4 animal (9 €Mio) 17 plant projects: Allium, Avena, Hordeum, Beta, Brassica, Daucus, Solanum, Ulmus, Vitis, Zea, Fruit trees, Prunus, Oryza, Rosa GENRES brochure : outcome of 20 co-funded projects First Community Programme under former Council Regulation (EC) N° 1467/1994 21 co-funded projects: 17 plant + 4 animal (9 €Mio) 17 plant projects: Allium, Avena, Hordeum, Beta, Brassica, Daucus, Solanum, Ulmus, Vitis, Zea, Fruit trees, Prunus, Oryza, Rosa GENRES brochure : outcome of 20 co-funded projects 4 Second Community Programme under Council Regulation (EC) N° 870/2004 17 co-funded actions: 12 plant + 5 animal (10 €Mio) 12 plant projects: Leafy Vegetables, Grapevine, Forest, Saffron, Small berries, Rice, Garlic, Crop wild relatives, Oats, Artichoke, Hazelnut and Almond, Gooseberries Second Community Programme under Council Regulation (EC) N° 870/2004 17 co-funded actions: 12 plant + 5 animal (10 €Mio) 12 plant projects: Leafy Vegetables, Grapevine, Forest, Saffron, Small berries, Rice, Garlic, Crop wild relatives, Oats, Artichoke, Hazelnut and Almond, Gooseberries  2012: evaluation of outcomes of the 38 GENRES projects

6. Needs and future priorities for promoting plant genetic resources at EU level ? –Analysis of plant genetic diversity (plant, population, agro- ecosystems), –Characterisation (phenotype and genome): improve the knowledge –Ex situ conservation: gene banks, data bases, catalogues (maintenance and harmonisation), European core collections, etc… –In situ conservation: need for closer link with breeding and farming activities –Communication and training: fill the gap between science, stakeholders (farmers and breeders) and policy makers. Please send us your recommendations 25 Future perspectives

7. ► Agri-environment payments (around 19 bn€ i.e. 44% of Axis 2) “To rear farm animals of local breeds indigenous to the area and in danger of being lost to farming and to preserve plant genetic resources naturally adapted to the local and regional conditions and under threat of erosion". Articles 39(1)- 39(4) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 and Article 27(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1974/2006: 2008: 0,013% (15.7 m€) of the total agri-environment (1,2bn€). ► Specific support "Operations at national and regional level for specific support for the conservation of genetic resources in agriculture.” Article 39(5) of Council Regulation (EC) No1698/2005 and Article 28(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1974/2006: 2008: (plants and animals) 0,008% (11 m€) of total agri-environment For the period 2007-2013, 7 Member States through 15 RDPs representing 78 Mio € applied specific genetic resources measure. Rural development programming 11

8. Type of rural development action Conserve species and varieties used by farmers and rural populations, adapted to local environmental conditions and produced in traditional systems. Support establishment and maintenance of conservation fields, including collection expenditure; Support classification and valorisation of genetic plant resources (regional varieties); Support information dissemination, according to the technical rules previously defined by the coordinating structure; Support dissemination of the valorised genetic material; Purchase of services and equipment to support ex-situ conservation and information exchange.

9. EU quality schemes Geographical indications: 6 PDO for Saffron (1 Greece, 1 Spain, 4 Italy) Organic farming: 4.1 % of total EU-27 utilised agricultural area (UAA) in 2007 (7.8 mio ha in 2008) Traditional specialities guaranteed

10. Thank you for your attention Francis Fay Deputy Head of Unit Agriculture and Rural Development European Commission World Bank seminar, 25.5.2011 Website: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/index_en.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/index_en.htm http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/genetic-resources/index_en.htm