Plant genetic resources are the biological foundation of food security. In Europe, the intensification of agriculture has led to a reliance on a limited number of commercial crop varieties, increasing vulnerability to pests, diseases and extreme weather events caused by climate change. Reversing this trend by conserving and utilising diverse plant genetic resources – including local landraces and wild crop relatives – is essential for building a resilient, sustainable food system. These resources provide the unique adaptive traits, such as drought tolerance and disease resistance, necessary to maintain stable yields and reduce inputs in a changing climate. It is equally important to understand the socio-economic drivers that convince farmers to use these crops and to give them value through initiatives such as regional branding, the development of niche markets and innovative supply chains. Finally, integrating wild crop relatives into breeding networks to unlock resilient traits, promoting participatory plant breeding programmes and improving germplasm sanitation and transfer protocols are important aspects for innovation in this field.

Most EIP-AGRI Operational Group projects (OG) working in this field are tackling challenges and opportunities related to biodiversity and ecosystem services, climate adaptation, market access for small-scale producers and product innovation. Regarding the solutions being tested, many OGs are working on: the identification and characterisation of local germplasm; the implementation of agroforestry and polyculture systems; and the development of new products and short food supply chains that promote the use of traditional varieties.

Find out more on the cross-visits homepage.

For any questions, please contact crossvisit.innovation@eucapnetwork.eu.