Protecting genetic resources: essential strategies for biodiversity

Genetic diversity is the variation of genes between and within species. Maintaining high genetic diversity enables species to adapt to climate and environmental changes. Protecting agricultural genetic resources is essential for plants and livestock to maintain this diversity and ensure resilience and sustainability in agriculture and forestry systems.

EU funds, particularly the CAP, can play an important role in supporting this. Examples of recent policy developments at the EU level include the Farm to Fork strategy and the new EU forest strategy for 2030. Another policy milestone is the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030, which is a comprehensive, ambitious and long-term plan to protect nature and reverse the degradation of ecosystems.

The article looks at international and EU level policy developments in protecting genetic resources and reviews stakeholder-led projects and initiatives. Horizon and the CAP, through CAP Strategic Plans, are well placed to support the two complementary conservation approaches - in-situ and ex-situ conservation. The text offers information about CAP funded projects, such as those for the preservation of the genetic resources of olive trees in Italy and Malta and the protection of the indigenous Red Cow breed in Greece.