20/04/2012

EASAC (European Academies Science Advisory Council), the federation of the National Academies of Science of the members of the European Union publishes reports about specific subjects on a regular base.

The last report was published on 6 March 2012 : Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

Agriculture in Europe faces some major challenges, associated with the need to deliver food security worldwide at a time of increasing pressures from population growth, climate change and economic instability and the continuing imperative to avoid further losses in biodiversity.

Plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) include the traditional crop varieties and their wild relatives, modern cultivars, breeding lines and genetic stocks which provide food, feed for domestic animals, fibre, clothing, shelter, medicine and energy.

Making better use of plant genetic resources is a very important part of the necessary response to the challenges for agriculture. EASAC advises that the conservation and use of plant genetic diversity should be an important concern in Europe.

This report is available on EASAC's website: www.easac.eu (here's a direct link to the report)