A European Genebank Integrated System
(project period: August 2004 - September 2006)

Background information

A model project on sharing of responsibilities as a possible model for A European Genebank Integrated System (AEGIS) was approved for funding under the ECPGR budget during the Ninth Steering Committee meeting (Turkey 2003).

The overall goal of this project is to ensure conservation and continuing use of existing crop genetic diversity in Europe. Guiding principles are the long-term conservation, high quality of and easy access to genetic material, the avoidance of duplication of conservation efforts and making better use of existing but dispersed capacities and capabilities. Assuming that this goal can better be achieved as a regional effort, rather than on the national level, the project intends to promote the establishment of a European Genebank Integrated System, starting with undertaking a feasibility study.

The expected output consists of a set of recommendations, based on the analysis of organizational, structural, technical, legal and financial aspects. The recommendations will be submitted to the attention of the ECPGR Steering Committee for endorsement and further implementation.

The start-up project meeting was held at the Nordic Gene Bank in Alnarp, Sweden, 26-27 November 2004 (for all relevant information, see section: "Documents" on the right end side of this page).

In June 2005, four different AEGIS meetings took place at IPGRI headquarters in Rome, as follows:
20 June: AEGIS Steering Committee Second meeting
21 June: AEGIS Steering Committee and the Global Crop Diversity Trust joint meeting
22 June: AEGIS Steering Committee and the AEGIS Project Partners joint meeting
23-24 June: Project Partners Mid-Term meeting

All information related to the four meetings can be found here.

Expected impact:

• Facilitate substantial steps ahead in terms of sharing of long-term conservation responsibilities in Europe
• Support the establishment of an effective cooperative approach towards a cost-efficient European long-term conservation
• Identify all relevant and available resources at institutional and national level that could be integrated into a European Genebank System
• Enhance priority setting and targeting of conservation efforts
• Increase transparency of conservation activities and crop-related expertise in Europe
• Facilitate steps conducive to a more effective use of conserved germplasm accessions
• Promote a system that would improve the quality of germplasm conservation (increased genetic integrity and improved conservation and characterization)