Agricultural Genetic Resources In The Alps

Hundert Nutztierrassen in den Alpenländern sind akut gefährdet – so lautete das wichtigste Ergebnis einer Studie über die «Landwirtschaftlichen Genressourcen» des Alpenbogens aus den Jahren 1992/93. Alarmierend an diesen Befunden war vor allem die Tatsache, dass in vierzig Prozent der Fälle keinerlei Erhaltungsinitiativen ergriffen worden waren. Nun liegt eine Aktualisierung der Studie für die Jahre 2000/2001 vor, in die neu auch die Situation der Kulturpflanzen mit einbezogen wurde. In den verschiedenen Alpenländern, von Frankreich bis Slowenien, haben sich seit der ersten Studie nicht nur die Zahlen der Restpopulationen geändert, sondern auch die rechtlichen und politischen Rahmenbedingungen. In der Publikation der Bristol-Stiftung ist nun der Synthesebericht der umfangreichen Studie in fünf Sprachen abgedruckt: Englisch, Deutsch, Französisch, Italienisch und Slowenisch. A hundred livestock breeds in the Alpine countries are acutely endangered. This was the most important finding of a study on "agricultural genetic resources" in the Alps in 1992/93. Especially alarming was the fact that, in 40% of cases, there appeared to have been no attempts to conserve the endangered breeds. This study has now been updated for 2000/2001, with cultivated plants also included. Since the first study not only have the sizes of the remnant populations changed, but so too have the legal and political conditions in these Alpine countries, ranging from France to Slovenia. This Bristol Foundation publication contains a summary report of the detailed study in five languages: English, German, French, Italian and Slovenian.

Plant genetic resources provide a basis for food security, livelihood support and economic development as a major component of biodiversity. The Second Report on the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture demonstrates the central role plant genetic diversity continues to play in shaping agriculture growth in the face of climate change and other environmental challenges. It is based on information gathered from Country Reports, regional syntheses, thematic studie s and scientific literature, documenting the major achievements made in this sector during the past decade and identifying the critical gaps and needs that should urgently be addressed. The Report provides the decision-makers with a technical basis for updating the Global Plan of Action on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. It also aims to attract the attention of the global community to set priorities for the effective management of plant genet ic resources for the future. Purchase a print copy.

Genetic diversity is essential to the security of agriculture. Without the availability of a wide range of plant varieties and the genetic resources they contain, crops cannot adapt to combat the ever-changing threats of pests, diseases and climatic change. Yet, with the increasing industrialisation of modern agriculture, farming has become a business which centres on a handful of new, genetically similar 'super seeds'. Plants must evolve in order to survive, but modern agriculture has replaced diversity with uniformity, and security with vulnerability. Saving the Seed traces the decline of crop varieties in European farming and describes what is being done to safeguard genetic resources for the future. Conservation efforts by government and industry suffer from serious drawbacks, with wrangles over ownership and control of resources. The crucial work is being done by individuals and grassroots organisations, who largely go unrecognised and under-resourced. What is urgently needed are sound policies to promote the diversification of agriculture and an integrated strategy for safeguarding the genetic base of our food system. Saving the Seed contains the most up-to-date information available on genetic resources in Europe and on those working to save them. Renee Vellve is a researcher at GRAIN, a no-governmental organisation working to promote the sustainable conservation and use of genetic diversity, based on grassroots approaches to genetic resources management. Originally published in 1992

Sustainable management of the world's livestock genetic diversity is of vital importance to agriculture, food production, rural development and the environment. "The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture" is the first global assessment of these resources. Drawing on 169 Country Reports, contributions from a number of international organizations and 12 specially commissioned thematic studies, it presents an analysis of the state of agricultural biodiversity in the livestock sector - origins and development, uses and values, distribution and exchange, risk status and threats - and of capacity to manage these resources - institutions, policies and legal frameworks, structured breeding activities and conservation programmes. Needs and challenges are assessed in the context of the forces driving change in livestock production systems. Tools and methods to enhance the use and development of animal genetic resources are explored in sections on the state of the art in characterization, genetic improvement, economic evaluation and conservation. The main findings of the report are summarized in "The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture - in brief," of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish versions can be found on the attached CD-ROM and are also available separately in printed form. As well providing a technical reference document, the country-based preparation of "The State of the World" has led to a process of policy development and a "Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources," which once adopted, will provide an agenda for action by the international community. Published also in French.