AEGIS: an example of ongoing genebank integration

process in Europe

Jozef Turok, Bioversity International

• European Cooperative Programme for Plant Genetic Resources (ECPGR) – Established in 1980

– Phase VIII (2009-2013)

– National Coordinators, Steering Committee

– Member countries (43) provide funding and technical inputs

– 9 Networks and 20 Working Groups

PGR Network in Europe

– Facilitate the long-term Facilitate the long-term in situin situ and and ex situex situ conservation of conservation of plant genetic resources in Europeplant genetic resources in Europe

– Increased utilization of plant genetic resources in EuropeIncreased utilization of plant genetic resources in Europe

– Strengthen links between all plant genetic resources programmes in Europe

– Encourage cooperation between all stakeholders

– Encourage the sharing of conservation responsibilities

– Increase awareness of the importance of PGRFA

– Increase the planning of joint activities - development of joint project proposals to be submitted to funding agencies

ECPGR objectives

ECPGR outputs

• 62 European Central Crop Databases

• Joint identification of research needs and development of projects; implemented in close collaboration with the ECPGR Working Groups

• Publications: Working Group reports including state-of-the-art information on plant genetic resources in the European countries; collaborative workplans

• Conservation guidelines and descriptors

• Linkages with other research and conservation initiatives in Europe - SeedNet, FAO, Treaty, Global Crop Diversity Trust

Facts and figures

1500 genebanks/germplasm coll.

app. 6 million accessions

Estimated 2 million unique

500 genebanks/germplasm coll.

app. 2 million accessions

Only 30-40% unique (estimate)

> 40 European countries

EuropeWorldwide

• Concept of a virtual genebank in Europe, integrating conservation activities of all the partners

• European Collection (of unique and important accessions) to be established

• Formal MOU signed by member countries, taking responsibilities for long-term conservation

• Quality management system, operational and technical standards to be developed

• Central role of a strengthened information system (including evaluation data)

Long-term conservation of public-domain European

Accessions (including routine operations such as

viability testing, regeneration, characterization and

evaluation)

Safety duplication

Germplasm management activities (e.g., collecting

and exchange, regeneration, information

management)

Germplasm distribution

European Collection: elements

1. In the public domain (i.e. Annex I material that is in the MLS and non-Annex I material designated to AEGIS by governments or any other holder)

2. Genetically unique (i.e. genetically distinct accessions)

3. Agronomically and/or historically or culturally important

4. Plant Genetic Resources including medicinal, ornamental species and crop wild relatives

5. European origin or introduced germplasm of actual or potential (breeding/research) importance to Europe

Most Appropriate Accession

Benefits of AEGIS

• Improved collaboration between countries

• Cost efficient conservation activities

• Improved quality standards

• Increased effectiveness in regeneration

• Facilitated access and availability of germplasm

• Improved security through safety-duplication

• Improved sharing of knowledge and information

Model Crops

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Vegetatively propagated material – biennial and perennial Non Annex I of ITPGRFA

AvenaAvena BraBrasssicasica

PrunuPrunuss

AlliumAllium

outcrossingselfing

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Seed propagated material – annual Annex I of International Treaty for PGRFA

Institutions and relationships

Integral part of ECPGR – existing institutional framework

ECPGR Steering Committee provides governance

AEGIS Advisory Committee provides oversight

Builds on capacity of all genebanks

Important role and responsibilities of Crop Working

Groups

Contribution to the implementation process of the

International Treaty

Liaison with EU programmes (submission of a proposal

for Research Infrastructures, December 2009)

Genebank quality management system

• Quality assurance is based on principle that you (a) say

what you do; (b) you do what you say; and (c) you let an

independent audit check that you do what you say• Focus on genebank operations (e.g. seed storage,

regeneration protocols)• ECPGR will develop a quality assurance system• Each genebank writes down its current procedures • Basis for discussing technical standards • Good feedback mechanism aimed at improving quality

EURISCO – PGR information search catalogue

• Launched by ECPGR in 2003, initially financed through an EU research project (EPGRIS) and maintained by Bioversity on behalf of the partners

• “one stop shop” window to European ex situ collections, an accession level passport information system based on National Inventories

• Maintains a network of 44 National Focal Points from European countries > 1 million 1 million accessionsaccessions

> National inventories from 40 countries

> 297 holding institutions

> 217 country sources

> 5.400 genera

> 34.500 species

Breeding material from >1000 institutions …

> 1 million 1 million accessionsaccessions

> National inventories from 40 countries

> 297 holding institutions

> 217 country sources

> 5.400 genera

> 34.500 species

Breeding material from >1000 institutions …

Simple/advanced & multiple searches

Download what you searchedView passport dataDownload Excel, CSV, XMLUpdated informationPA materials available/downloadFollow up-feedbackPublicly available in July 2008

New website and new search functionalities

http://eurisco.ecpgr.orghttp://eurisco.ecpgr.org