Agriculture, genetic resources: conservation, collection and utilisation

PURPOSE : to launch a new action programme on genetic resources in agriculture. CONTENT : in view of the success of the original action programme which ended in 1999, the Council has called for a new action programme to be elaborated. The aim of the action programme is to: - finance measures to promote the conservation, characterisation, collection and utilisation of genetic resources which are of importance to agricultural production and at the same time help implement the "agricultural biodiversity plan" which will allow wider coverage of plant and animal varieties. - coordinate the national programmes and exchange information between the Member States and the Commission. - facilitate coordination in the field of international negotiation, in particular within the FAO. The legal basis is Article 37. The new action programmes will cover the following elements: - the framework of the programmes, including objectives and orientations of the action with the essential lines to be followed. These will be developed in more detail in the implementing rules. - implementation in the form of national programmes, where Member States are responsible for the application of the action, including transnational projects. The selection and management of the projects will take place within the framework of the national programmes, elaborated by the Member States and presented to the Commission. Measures will be implemented through transnational projects, which will form the main part of the programme, and smaller scale national projects covering in situ/on farm conservation (reproduction of genetic resources by farmers, on their own farm and conservation in ecoregions.) - the duties of the Commission - setting up a committee on genetic resources to assist the Commission and act as a management committee when consulted on the adoption of the national programmes and as a consultative committee for other questions related to genetic resources. Some specific actions are not eligible for Community financial support, such as theoretical studies to improve tools and techniques. The programme is financed from the EAGGF Guarantee Section, at a forecast annual cost of up to 10 million. Regulation 1258/99/EC will need to be amended so that it includes genetic resources in measures financed by the EAGGF Guarantee Section.�