Actuality 4/2009
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=> Link to the SAVE eNews archive (former editions of 'actuality')
eNews:
Dezember
10, 2009
Position paper for the Climate Summit in Copenhagen:
Agricultural Diversity as a
Strategy of Agriculture in Climate Change
Link to the SAVE_eNews_09_extra_en.pdf
(44 KB, December 09)
Documentation & Use of Traditional Knowledge in the Alps
The knowledge about cultivation, animal husbandry, breeding, use and product manufacturing of rare breeds and varieties is being lost with the elder generation. Sometimes the knowledge gets lost faster than the breed or the variety. If this knowledge falls into oblivion, in-situ / on-farm conservation becomes difficult. The traditional "Farmer's Knowledge" is an "Intangible Heritage" as it is protected by the UNESCO "Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage" (implemented 2003).
During the Conference "Alpine Convention and Agrobiodiversity" which was organized in collaboration with the Alpine Convention and SAVE-Monitoring Institute in May 2008 in Bolzano, Italy, experts stated that collecting the traditional knowledge of the Alpine Circle is of special importance. A precondition to implement a project to collect traditional knowledge is a functioning network of experts. Such a network was build up through several monitoring studies (like "Alpine Delphi", 2007, see: http://www.save-foundation.net/pdf/Alm_Final_Report.pdf) and combined in the "Alpine Network for Agrobiodiversity" by SAVE-Monitoring Institute. The idea to collect the knowledge about rare autochthonous breeds and varieties is very new and innovative. Until now, only few efforts were undertaken to systematically collect traditional peasant knowledge. A basis for collection, verification and dissemination needs to be developed.
In order to achieve this, SAVE- Monitoring Institute began a one year feasibility study for the collection and documentation of traditional knowledge in the Alps - to find the best way of collecting and handling the data. The project is based on agrobiodiversity and regionally limited to the Alps as a pilot region because a network of experts exists and basic data is already collected, such as the occurrence and distribution of breeds and varieties.
The study includes:
- Development of an information platform (possibly wiki-based, that people can contribute to)
- Development of a system to collect knowledge from different sources (Libraries, Internet, Museums, Persons)
- Development of categories and content.
As a result of the feasibility study, a following project will launched that is also clearly limited to agrobiodiversity and the Alps, as geographical region. It is important to set the scope of the research, otherwise it is difficult to judge where it should begin and end. Experience from this project shall be introduced in projects also in other regions, such as the Balkan region or the Carpathians, in a later stage.
If there are comments to this project please contact the responsible persons by eMail: waltraud.kugler@save-foundation.net; ulrich.donath@save-foundation.net
De Oerakker: Dutch saveguard for vegetables, grains & crops
The Oerakker (i.e. the ancient field) almost became an obsession for Ruurd Walrecht as he began, in the Netherlands, to collect endangered crops. As an enthusiastic hobby farmer he grew several varieties of vegetables, grains and crops and he started collecting old Dutch landraces. He visited dozens of old, almost retired growers, went to Northern Germany (Ost-Friesland) and contacted colonists in the USA and Canada who had taken Dutch seeds to their new homelands. He soon had to seek for more land for his collection and he arrived in the province of Drenthe in Veenhuizen in 2002, at the state prison, where he hoped that the owner, the ministry of justice, would sponsor him. At the end of 2006 he received the Fighting Against All Odds-prize, but when he still got no financial support and scientific approval, he moved to Sweden, leaving his collection behind.
He had more than 500 Dutch landraces in situ, especially beans, peas, cabbages, and carrots. The Network Eternal Mash was created by his followers to protect his legacy. With about 20 historic vegetable gardens, a working party was set up in close collaboration with Centre for Genetic Resources University of Wageningen, for in situ conservation. In 2008 they started the Orange List (as a counterpart to usual Red list) for beans (453 varieties included), carrots (162), cabbages (788), lettuce (271) and peas (382); see www.deoerakker.nl). Recently, 129 varieties of onions, 37 of leeks and 17 of shallots were added to the Orange List. In 2008 the Agricultural University of Wageningen collection of beans was compared with the collection of Ruurd Walrecht. 10 to 15% of his collection was unique. Now, original varieties of beans are being grown at several locations. De Oerakker collection has been stored, categorized, and saved and is no longer private it has become a true non-governmental organization - showing that a huge national collection can never be maintained by one person.
René Zanderink (Amsterdam, tel. 020-6385813), Obe Bootsma (Haarlem, tel. 023-5316480), Chris Kik (head curator crops Centre for Genetic resources in the Netherlands (CGN) at the Agricultural University in Wageningen), board members De Oerakker and partners of Network 'Eeuwig Moes', heahea@planet.nl & info@deoerakker.nl
Association for the conservation and cultivation of cultivated plants (VERN e.V.)
The association for the conservation and cultivation of cultivated plants (VERN e.V.) was founded in 1996 in the north-eastern state of Brandenburg, Germany. At that time a system of large nature reserves was being built up. Against this background, some stakeholders in the district developed the idea to connect a sustainable, ecologically-oriented land use with the conservation of plant genetic resources. The aim of the association is to bring together existing initiatives, show gardens, nurseries and farms and to promote on farm conservation of crop genetic resources in a coordinated and skilled way.
A show nursery in Greiffenberg / Uckermark houses the seed stock, including treatment options and the office for the coordination of the network. This consists of agricultural and horticultural enterprises of different sizes (from 5 - 1000 ha), environmental education centers, botanical gardens or small show gardens as well as visitor information centers of large nature reserves to individuals &endash; known as "Gastronomes" - who hold the issue close to their heart. Currently the association has nearly 400 members nationwide, the emphasis so far has been regionally in Berlin and Brandenburg. In Greiffenberg about four employees working regularly, plus temporary and seasonal workers, interns during the summer months and sometimes even international guests.
The association has, over the last ten year, developed a collection of various crops species (about 2,000 species), particularly cereals, potatoes, tomatoes and other vegetables, ornamental plants and selected groups. This collection is constantly growing, selectively edited and described. Interested persons can obtain seeds for their own purposes on a non-commercial basis. Since 2007, there is also a joint project with the Berlin Humboldt University on the reintroduction of old lettuce. In addition to courses, seminars and events are offered, such as the maintenance of varieties, seed production, multiplication or botany. Moreover, the association or individual members offer environmental education in the context of school and extracurricular education, at horticultural shows (LAGA) and also in political work, from the participation in 2008 at the international congress "Planet Diversity" to comments on EU legislation.
For more information: www.vern.de and http://www.grand-cru-institute.com/de/index.php
12th Regular Session of the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources - Summary
The meeting of the 12th regular session of the Commission on Genetic Resources took place 19th - 23rd October 2009 in the FAO headquarters in Rome. This was preceded by a special information seminar entitled "Policy Arrangements for Access and Benefit Sharing for Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture [GRFA]". This seminar aimed to provide a broad overview and discussion on the status of the negotiations on the international regime on ABS. CGRFA-12 considered agenda items relating to the ongoing programmes of the Commission with regard to the multi-year programme of work (MYPOW), including access and benefit-sharing (ABS) for GRFA, plant genetic resources (PGR), animal genetic resources (AnGR), forest genetic resources (FGR), biodiversity of micro-organisms and invertebrates for food and agriculture.
Access and Benefit Sharing
for GRFA:
The essential role of GRFA for food security was stressed;
members were encouraged by the Commission to work closely
with the negotiators of the international regime in their
respective countries; further work on ABS in relation to the
CBD is necessary; the special nature of agricultural
biodiversity should taken into account in the
negotiations.
Plant Genetic Resources
(PGR):
The Commission endorsed the State of The World's Plant
Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (SOW-2) as the
authoritative assessment of the PGRFA sector; governments
and donors were invited to make available the financial
resources necessary to translate the SOW-2 and requested FAO
to print and widely distribute it; A summary, containing
main findings, conclusions, identified gaps and needs for
policy makers shall also be prepared by FAO.
Animal Genetic Resources
(AnGR):
The Secretariat introduced documents on the follow-up to the
Interlaken Conference and the report of the fifth session of
the ITWG-AnGR. The important contributions of small-scale
livestock keepers was acknowledged, particularly those in
developing countries, as custodians of much of the world's
AnGR their full and effective participation in the
implementation of the GPA was called for. The need for
continued support and mechanisms to provide updated
information on AnGR was noted. The ITWG-AnGR should explore
early warning and response systems for AnGR.
Funding Strategy for the
Implementation of the GPA for AnGR:
The Commission adopted the Funding Strategy for the
implementation of the GPA for AnGR; requested FAO to
implement the GPA as part of a consolidated programme that
addresses all GRFA; and requested FAO to report on the
administrative arrangements for the FAO Trust
Account.
Cooperation with the
International Treaty on PGR:
Closer cooperation between the various international bodies
dealing with PGR is called for. The Commission adopted the
Joint Statement of Intent for Cooperation between the
governing body of the ITPGR and the CGRFA; will collaborate
with ITPGR so that issues related to ABS for PGRFA may be
dealt with in an integrated and harmonious manner; and
requested the CGRFA and ITPGR Bureaus to coordinate their
agendas for e.g. review of the draft GPA.
Coperation with the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD):
The different sectors of GRFA may require tailored access
and benefit sharing approaches, and that these might need to
be distinct from the bilateral contractual approach
envisaged under the CBD. The Commission supports further
collaboration between the CBD and the FAO Commission; and
requested the Secretary to explore the possibility of
holding a joint meeting of the Bureau of the Commission and
the Bureau of the CBD-COP to discuss future cooperation.
A full report on this meeting can be found in the Earth Negotiations Bulletin on the website of the International Institute for Sustainable Development, which provides information resources, including daily coverage, of the negotiations. http://www.iisd.ca/biodiv/cgrfa12/ Documents from the meeting are available here: http://www.fao.org/nr/cgrfa/cgrfa-meetings/cgrfa-comm/twelfth-reg/en/
Breed Atlas of the Balkans online
Within the project "Rare Breeds of the Balkans", alongside networking and monitoring activities, data about cross-border occurring species of farm animals in the Balkan countries was collected for the first time (http://www.save-foundation.net/Publications/SAVE_Focus_05_Balkan.pdf ). Up to now, most Balkan countries have no adequate system for recording their indigenous breeds. Since 2005 many breeds were identified and their stocks were assessed, but a comprehensive overview was missing. With the newly developed internet database, it is possible to quickly and easily search within the collected information. The information is available for both professionals and interested laymen and also serves the networking of stakeholders. The Breed Atlas is available on the "Balkan Network for Agrobiodiversity", see: http://www.agrobiodiversity.net/balkan/index.htm .Search is possible by species, country, breed name or synonyms. On the data sheets the primary name and synonyms are listed. A brief description of the breed follows, including history and other general observations, breed details and the source of information. Where available, two pictures have been added to this description. A sketch map indicates the part of the country in which the breed is to be found, according to the information available.
The 139 recognized breeds and varieties are distributed widely across the regions and countries. In Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Serbia, many indigenous breeds are already recognized and approved by the State. In Bosnia-HerzegovinaFYROM and Montenegro, however, there is still great need for action.
Newsflash
2nd International
Conference on the organic sector development in
Central/Eastern European and Central Asian Countries
The 2nd International conference on the organic sector
development in Central/Eastern European and Central Asian
countries took place on September 10-11, 2009 in Tbilisi,
Georgia. SAVE was represented at this conference and
presented the marketing ideas from the ELBARN project during
the session on animal husbandry. This very interesting
conference presented the state of agriculture in the former
Soviet Union and surrounding countries and gave a clear idea
of the research taking place, the need for development and
the problems that have to be overcome to promote sustainable
agricultural development in the region. The conference
demonstrated the fact that the organic sector often does not
recognise the importance of livestock within an
agro-eco-system, with the majority of presentations
concentrating on the plant sector. The promotion of animals
within sustainable farming systems is essential if
traditional animal genetic resources are to be conserved for
future generations. The current consumer swing towards a
meatless diet is based on a rejection of industrial
practices; however, autochthonous breeds raised in extensive
systems can provide a highly nutritional and very tasty
alternative to intensively reared meat products. The
conference proceedings and declaration can be found here:
http://organicconference.elkana.org.ge
FAO Regional Expert
Meeting
Ulrich Donath, from the head office of the SAVE
Foundation, attended the FAO Regional Expert Meeting which
took place from 20-21 October 2009 Budapest, Hungary. He
presented a paper with the title "Livestock-based
Geographical Indication chains as an entry point to maintain
agro-biodiversity". The content of the meeting as well as
the recommendations will be published soon under the REU/SEU
web-site (http://www.fao.org/Regional/SEUR/index_en.htm).
In the presentation, the work of the SAVE Network was
outlined and the critical aspects of products which are
certified with geographical indicated labels were
emphasized. It was also possible to introduce the ELBARN
(European Livestock Breeds Ark & Rescue Net) project,
which has a main theme of marketing products and services of
AnGRFA, within the presentation.
Food Safety from Farm to
Fork: The new Animal Health Strategy - European Commission
Consultation Process Call for Participation
The consultation process by questionnaire serves to
collect input on the main problems identified so far in
relation to current EU animal health policy and to check,
add to and, if necessary, redirect possible approaches to
solving them. The document reflects the preparations made by
Unit D1 in the Animal Health and Welfare Directorate of the
Directorate-General for Health and Consumers with a view to
drafting a new Animal Health Law and impact assessment. This
questionnaire is addressed to anyone with a stake in animal
health and welfare, especially stakeholders involved in
keeping live animals and in the production of, trade in,
import or export of live animals and products of animal
origin, or in legal and economic affairs related to these
areas including non-professional animal keepers, The online
interactive questionnaire is available until 31 December
2009 at the following page: http://ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/ipm/forms/dispatch?form=animalhealthlaw.
More details on the whole process: http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/diseases/strategy/pillars/consultation_process_en.htm
Global Crop Diversity
Trust: Food security and Climate Change: Need for action
The Global Crop Diversity Trust launches an initiative
to point out the importance of agriculture in the current
climate change debate, especially with view to the COP15
Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December. More than
sixty of the world's most prominent agricultural scientists
and leading thinkers in development issued in a statement a
warning about the almost total absence of agriculture in
talks leading up to the UN Climate Change Conference. In
November José Emmanuel Barroso, President of the
European Commission, spoke about the importance of crop
diversity in tackling climate change and food insecurity,
and called for governments in developed countries "to
translate their commitments into hard cash". World leaders
at the Rome Summit on Food Security unanimously declared
that "Any recipe for confronting the challenges of climate
change must allow for mitigation options and a firm
commitment to the adaptation of agriculture, including
through conservation and sustainable use of genetic
resources for food and agriculture". For more information
see:
http://www.croptrust.org/climatechangestatement.html
Important Dates 2010 (excerpt):
14-16 January: Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (within "International Green Week Berlin", 15-24 January), Berlin, Germany. Web: http://www.forumgruenewoche.de/
9-13 February: "Nutra Bioorganic", first Fair in Russia on biological foodstuffs"; Moskow, Russia. Web: http//www.bioorganic.ru/
11-14 February: Nature Fair, Basel, Switzerland. Web: http://www.natur.ch
17-20 February: "BioFach" - World Organic Trade Fair, Nuremberg, Germany. Web http://www.biofach.de
16 March: Forum for the Future of Agriculture: "Meeting the food & environmental challenge", Brussels, Belgium. Web: http://www.forumforagriculture.com
19 March: Research meeting on "Strewing Fruit Cultivation" (Streuobstanbau), Stuttgart, Germany. Contact: schmieder@uni-hohenheim.de
19-21 March: Annual General Meeting of the European Federation of City Farms, Bristol, UK. Contact: efcf@vgc.be, Web: http://www.cityfarms.org
25-27 March: "Let's liberate diversity" 5th Meeting of European Seed Initiatives in Graz, Austria. Contact: info@liberate-diversity-graz2010.org, Web: http://www.liberate-diversity-graz2010.org/
25-28 March: European Animal Fibre Week at Santuario di Oropa, Biella, Italy. Contact: info@biellathewoolcompany.it, Web: http://www.biellathewoolcompany.it
27-29 March: 5th European meeting for seeds: "Sowing future - harvesting diversity", in Graz, Austria. Web: http://www.arche-noah.at/etomite/index.php?id=137#zukunftsaen
13-15 April: 5th International Exhibition for Flower Business, Horticulture, Nurseries, Landscape design and Floristry, Kiev, Ukraine. Web: http://www.flowers-hortech.com/en/exhibition-next_general.aspx
15-17 April: International Dagene Meeting "Biodiversity is life - AgroBiodiversity is our life" at Brazi (Retezat region), Romania. Contact: ipate.iudith@gmail.com
22-23 April: 11th International Scientific Conference "Economic Science for Rural Development 2010", Jelgava, Latvia. Contact: zane.bulderberga@llu.lv, Web: http://www.ef.llu.lv/index.htm?p=2
26-29 April: IAALD 13th World Congress: "Scientific and Technical Information and Rural Development", Montpellier, France. Web: http://iaald2010.agropolis.fr
1-6 May: 4th "Market of wool products and textile art" at Bergerie Nationale de Rambuillet, Paris, France. contact: atelier5@orange.fr, Web: http://pagesperso-orange.fr/atelier.laine
6-7 May: 5th Organic Forum "Processing and Trade of Organic Food, Non Food and Organic Raw Materials", Warsaw, Poland. Web: http://www.organic-marketing-forum.org
8 May: International day of the Donkey "Mobilization and Promotion for Donkeys". Contact: asstute@lantic.net, Web: http://www.donkecology.com
13-18 June: BGCI 4th Global Botanic Gardens Congress, Dublin, Ireland. Web: http://www.4GBGC.com
28 June - 1 July: Internat. Symposium "Innovation & Sustainable Development in Agriculture and Food - ISDA 2010"; Montpellier, France, http://www.isda2010.net
4-7 July: Workshop "Mountain food products: A special system of provision", Vienna, Austria. Contact: markus.schermer@uibk.ac.at
22-27 August: 28th international Horticultural Congress "Science and Horticulture for People", Lisbon, Portugal. Web: http://www.ihc2010.org
23-27 August: 61st Annual Meeting of the European Association for Animal Production (EAAP),Heraklion, Island of Crete, Greece. Contact: info@eaap2010.org, Web: http://www.eaap2010.org
29 August - 2 September: 23rd General Meeting of the European Grassland Federation, Kiel, Germany: Contact: egf2010@email.uni-kiel.de, Web: http://www.egf2010.de
1 September: Day of prayer for the environment of the Orthodox Church (Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople). Web: http://patriarchate.org/environment
3-5 September: 4th European Seminar on Agrobiodiversity: "AgroBiodiversity - a crucial part of Biodiversity"; Annual meeting of SAVE Foundation and the European SAVE-Network (together with VERN e.V.) on Castle Criewen, Brandenburg, Germany. Contact: office@save-foundation.net
13-16 September: ECP/GR Meeting "On-farm Conservation and Management WG" Madeira, Portugal. Contact: bioversity-ecpgr@cgiar.org
15-17 September: Forum Carpaticum "Integrating Nature and Society towards Sustainability", in Krakow, Poland. Contact: office@forumcarpaticum.org, Web: http://www.forumcarpaticum.org
15-19 September: Conference 2010 of the European Federation of City Farms and celebration of the 20th anniversary of EFCF at Bokkleslot City Farm, Kortijk, Belgium. Contact: efcf@vgc.be, Web: http://www.cityfarms.org
22-25 September: 2nd Conference on "Native Breeds and Plant Varieties as part of natural and cultural heritage" with international participation; at Porec (Istria), Croatia. Contact: kaps@dzzp.hr, Web: http://www.dzzp.hr/News-012010KAPS_Announcement.htm
September: 6th Interdisciplinary Interuniversity Conference " The Integrated Development of Mountainous Areas", Metsovo, Greece. Contact: mirc@central.ntua.gr
27 September - 2 October: European Days of "Strewing Fruit Cultivation" in connection with the "European Cultural Village" Kirchhein, Austria. Contact: info@landobstland.org, Web: http://wwwlandobstland.org
29 September: European Agrobiodiversitäy Day EAD; Topic 2010: "AgroBiodiversity - a crucial part of Biodiversity". PR event for AgroBiodiversity with various activities of all kind of stakeholders in their respective countries. Contact: info@monitoring.eu.com
14-16 October: 7th International Symposium on Mediterranean Pig, Cordoba, Andalucia, Spain. Contact: Emiliano.DePedro@uco.es, Web: http://www.uco.es/congresos/cerdomediterraneo
27-29 October: Symposium "Animal Farming and Environment Interactions in Mediterranean Region" at Zadar, Croatia. Contact: medit.zadar2010@unizd.hr, Web: http://www.unizd.hr/zadar2010
=>
Further information is available
from:
SAVE Foundation, Head Office, Joseph-Belli-Weg 5, D-78467
Konstanz / Germany
E-mail:
<office@save-foundation.net>
08-02-10
office(at)save-foundation.net
SAVE Head
Office
Joseph-Belli-Weg 5
D-78467 Konstanz
Germany
