1. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 EAFRD Project The Study and Sustainable Conservation of varieties of local plants Rural Development Programme for Malta 2007 – 2013 Axis 2 – Improving the Environment and the Countryside Project Part-financed by the European Union The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development Co-financing Rate: 80% European Union, 20% Government of Malta Europe Investing in Rural Areas Dr Marica Gatt Project Leader Director General (Veterinary and Phytosanitary Regulation Department) Ministry for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Climate Change

2. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 Outline Introduction Conservation of Plant genetic resources Project inception Project actions Conclusion 1

3. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 2 Rural Development Programme for 2007 – 2013 Axis 2 – Improving the Environment and the Countryside Project Part-financed by the European Union The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development Co-financing Rate: 80% European Union, 20% Government of Investing in Rural Areas Measure 214 Sub-Measure 10: Support for the Conservation of genetic resources in agriculture The study and sustainable conservation of varieties of local plants

4. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 3 Beneficiary: Plant Health Directorate (MSDEC) Total value: € 2,228,025.87 (excl VAT) Other local organisations involved: Nature Trust Start date: 26 th April 2013 The study and sustainable conservation of varieties of local plants

5. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 Project Inception 4 To conserve local landraces and varieties

6. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 Why conserve plants? 5 Modern agriculture has led to the use of only a limited number of crops with a narrow genetic base. Earlier cultivation made use of large numbers of land races with a substantial genetic variation. genetic impoverishment ? genetic erosion

7. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 Causes of Genetic erosion 6 New varieties and hybrids Intensive crop production Need for uniformity of production Increase demands for food New cultivation techniques Genetic improvement

8. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 Crop diversity 7 Crop diversity is one of the most fundamental resources on earth, on which the food security and well-being of humankind depend. Conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) are among the three main objectives of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGR)

9. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 Project Inception 8 To conserve local landraces and varieties Ex situ conservation Botanical garden Seed conservation

10. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 Project Inception 9 To conserve local landraces and varieties Enhance the use of local varieties (citrus sp)

11. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 Years of cultivation and propagation of local plant species within a geographically isolated location such as Malta has given rise to species that have been secluded within a restricted gene pool that suits the islands’ ecological and climatic conditions. This has resulted in the cultivation of various plant species that are now considered to be of a local variety and indeed differ phenotypically and in culinary taste and use from any other in Europe. Landraces are developed by farmers/growers by adopting various traditional agronomic practices 10

12. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 Project Inception 11 To conserve local landraces and varieties Enhance the use of local varieties (citrus sp) Clonal and sanitary selection of local citrus varieties

13. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 Project Inception 12 To conserve local landraces and varieties Increase public awareness

14. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 Visitor’s centre Public garden Creation of material for dissemination Project Inception 13 Increase public awareness

15. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 ex-situ conservation garden: local landraces, varieties and wild relatives of plants 14 Project includes

16. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015

17. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015

18. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 Visitor’s Centre: to serve as a catalyst for further scientific study on the subject as well as a portal of information regarding the project. A seed lab: seed purity/germination testing, collection of seeds for ex situ conservation (agricultural plants) 17 Project includes

19. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 Visitor’s Centre: to serve as a catalyst for further scientific study on the subject as well as a portal of information regarding the project. A seed lab: seed purity/germination testing, collection of seeds for ex situ conservation (agricultural plants) 18 Project includes

20. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 Visitor’s Centre: to serve as a catalyst for further scientific study on the subject as well as a portal of information regarding the project. A seed lab: seed purity/germination testing, collection of seeds for ex situ conservation (agricultural plants) 19 Project includes

21. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 Upgrade of Diagnostic resources 20 Project includes

22. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 Upgrade of Diagnostic resources 21 Project includes

23. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 Study of local landraces, varieties and wild relatives of plants: Collection and compilation of indigenous knowledge of local landraces and varieties of agricultural plants Assessment of the threats and the grade of genetic erosion of agricultural plants. 22 Project includes

24. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 Conservation of local citrus varieties: Sanitation and in vitro propagation of local varieties of citrus 23 Project includes

25. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015  Literature review  Clonal selection: Morphological characterisation  Sanitary selection  In vitro regeneration through somatic embryogenesis Conservation of local citrus varieties

26. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 Obtaining MEPA permits being a Scheduled Grade 1 area Short time frames Turnover of supporting staff Main tenders amounting to 50% of the total Project value were published and adjudicated before the Project team was set up. These include: Construction and finishing of botanical garden and building (visitor’s centre and seed lab) Upgrade of the diagnostic laboratory Services of Project Manager Services of botanical Manager 25 Some of the difficulties encountered during Project

27. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 Project Credits  Permanent Secretary (MSDEC)  Plant Health Directorate  Office of DG(VPRD)  Nature Trust  Other Departments within MSDEC: ARPA, PDID, PAS  Other Ministries: MTI - Project Design and Engineering Directorate ; MEIAM, MFIN (Contracts)  All contractors ................. 26

28. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 ex situ conservation area will be open to the public to increase awareness of the importance of conservation of local biodiversity and genetic resources that are important for the agricultural sector and for the environment Genebank for local citrus trees Stock plants for propagating material for regeneration of genetic resources Further dissemination of information and advisory services Further research based on information gathered 27 After Project

29. EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 EAFRD Dissemination Seminar Plant Health Directorate, 20 th October 2015 Thank you for your kind attention 28