Dynaversity

DYNAVERSITY analyzes, maps and describes the European actors involved in the conservation of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFAs) and looks for new ways of governance models that are suitable for promoting cooperation and links between stakeholders.

A considerable percentage of farmers have shifted from local varieties to genetically uniform high-yielding varieties as a global trend coming from the last century, which results in the dramatic decrease of genetic diversity of PGRFAs. This is alarming for many reasons: this phenomenon called “genetic erosion” does not only result in a less diverse diet for masses, but also reduces the chances for plants to adapt to changes, including climate change.

There are two types of conservation strategies: ex situ and in situ methods. The first implies the preservation of species outside of their natural habitats, such as gene banks, botanical gardens or greenhouses. In situ conservation is performed at the sites where the plants have developed their properties, therefore the opportunity to adapt to possible changes is not lost. In situ conservation involves wild species genetically close to cultivated ones, referred to as Crop Wild Relatives (CRW), which proved to be more problematic to be stored in genebanks.

 

Goals of DYNAVERSITY

1     Generating a knowledge base on the characteristics of in situ genetic resources, good practices on conservation and management issues.

2     Mapping actors and stakeholders and through case study analysis identifying better practices.

3     Promoting new sustainable links and partnerships between European conservation stakeholders – crosscutting academic-civic-political-private actors.

4     Integrating Natural Park activities and policies within the on farm and in garden conservation realm of action.

5     Raising public awareness on the importance of genetic resources.

6     Promoting an enabling institutional framework for new dynamic seed systems and strategies for innovative, participatory and integrated governance in the PGRFA communities, aiming at an increased use of genetic resources from in situ sources in breeding activities and in the food chain.

 

DYNAVERSITY received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation program. Magház participates in the project as a partner of ESSRG Kft.

The webpage of the project is the following: http://dynaversity.eu/

 

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