Integration of Conservation Strategies of Plant Genetic ... - Genres

Genetic resources in Europe
D. DESSYLAS 1
1. Background
The Community now has totally reformed its Agricultural Policy, and adapted it to new conditions. The
new policy continues to uphold the basic principles of the Rome Treaty, of the unity of the market,
Community preference, and financial solidarity. It introduces important changes in market mechanisms
for individual products. And it establishes a series of flanking measures, aimed at encouraging farmers
to use less intensive methods and to take on a more explicit role in the conservation and management
of the countryside.
Take, for example, the particular case of cereals. The target and the intervention prices for cereals. The
target and the intervention prices for cereals will be reduced progressively over the next three years.
These reductions will be offset by compensatory payments - provided that 15% of the farmed area is
withdrawn from production (this applies to the larger producers). The aid scheme (Council Regulation
No 2078/92) establishes a series of premiums for, for example, rearing endangered breeds of livestock
and for the cultivation and propagaton of useful plants adapted to local conditions and threatened by
genetic erosion.
The reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, more market-oriented, with lower intervention prices,
with set-aside, quotas, and other regulations, establishes new constraints and new incentives for
Community agriculture. Agriculture has in the past proved itself very responsive to policy requirements,
and that one of its principle means of response was provided by its suppliers, such as plant and animal
breeders. What are the implications of the reform of the CAP, and of other policy developments, such
as the Treaty of Maastricht, for the future conservation, characterisation and exploitation of the genetic
resources in Europe?
2. Genetic Resources
When policy called for higher levels of production the breeders gave farmers what they needed. Now
we need a decreased reliance on chemical inputs and an increased quality of the end-product. There is
every reason to believe that we can breed for these characters too. But genetic change requires sources
of the appropriate genetic characters. Collection of germplasms exist, both in-situ and ex-situ; but
keepers of germ plasm collections report that much of their stored material is under-characterised, for
lack of funds and personnel.
Genetic resources are a truly international resource, extending from country to country across national
borders. European collectors have gone across the world in search of germplasm for our farms and
gardens. By the same token, collectors have come to Europe in search of germplasm; for example, an
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Author's address:
Commission of the European Communities
DGVI.F.II-3
200 rue de la Loi
B-1000 Bruxelles
Belgium