Agrobiodiversität in Deutschland - Genres

136 | Martin Scheele
Agrobiodiversität im Rahmen der Gemeinsamen Agrarpolitik
natürlichen Ressourcen zu den Hauptzielsetzungen der Gemeinsamen Agrarpolitik
gehört. Es geht um ein umweltfreundliches Wachstum im Agrarsektor,
unter Vermeidung von Umweltschäden, sowie um die Erhaltung der
natürlichen Ressourcen, einschließlich der biologischen Vielfalt.
Abstract
Over the recent decades, the integration of environmental requirements has
become increasingly the determining factor of the Common Agricultural Policy
(CAP) and its further development. Environmental measures within the CAP
have a main focus on the preservation of habitats and landscape as well as on
the conservation of biodiversity.
By the end of the 1980s habitat and landscape management measures became
part of the Policy for Rural Development. The reform of the CAP in 1992 introduced
the agri-environmental measures which offer farmers, on voluntary
basis, a payment for environmental services exceeding mandatory standards.
This includes measures for the conservation of genetic diversity by cultivation
and breeding of endangered crops and breeds.
In 2004, a specific instrument for the conservation of agrobiodiversity- the
Community Programme for the conservation, characterization, collection
and utilization of genetic resources for agriculture- was started. In the current
implementation period, 180 scientific institutions participate in 17 projects
for the conservation of genetic resources. 12 projects are dedicated to the ex
situ conservation of crops, including cereals (rice, oat), fruits (strawberry,
blackberry, nuts and almond), leafy vegetables, grapevine, spices (saffron) and
forest plants. Their focus lies on the establishment and the consolidation of
gene banks and the coordination of crop-specific databases. 5 projects focus on
the ex situ conservation of genetic resources of farm animals (cattle, pig, and
sheep) with a main emphasis on the establishment, consolidation and coordination
of sperm banks. In addition, a network for the coordination of scientific
activities for the conservation of genetic resources exists.
Special challenges arise from the steep increase of food demand forecasted for
the coming decades. This trend coincides with a simultaneous increase in the
demand for bio-energy and biomass. The expected consequences will be an
increasing intensification of production and increasing land use competition.
This development will result in an increased pressure on natural resources such
as soil and water, as well as in the degradation of habitats and in a decline of
biological diversity. Climate change is likely to intensify these effects even more.
This future scenario for agriculture requires special efforts to facilitate sustainable
growth. This does not only concern technological and organizational
progress in the core area of primary agricultural production; it concerns also
the conservation of natural resources, especially soil, water and genetic diversity.
Coping with these challenges requires concerted actions of policy, science, the
private sector, and farmers. In this respect, clear requirements have been formulated
by policy. In its Communication “Common Agricultural Policy 2020”, the
European Commission underlined that the sustainable management of natural
resources is one of the main objectives of the CAP. Key issues are environmentally-friendly
growth in agriculture, mitigation of environmental damage, and the
conservation of natural resources, including biological diversity.
Martin Scheele | 137