One of the first tasks of EURC-EAB is a mapping process to show the status of implementation of Regulation (EU) 2016/1012, in particular the breeding programmes for endangered breeds.
All National Competent Authorities for Animal Breeding, the National Coordinators for Animal Genetic Resources and all breeding organisations at national level (including associations of breeding organisations) for equids, bovines, porcines, ovines and caprines were invited to take part in the survey.
To briefly introduce the EURC-EAB and to explain the background, the intention and the expected outcomes of the survey, and to give guidance how to fill the questionnaire, the EURC-EAB offered webinars to the respective target groups.
Lately, significant accomplishments related to Animal Genetic Resources have occurred in Europe. Following the publication of the Genetic Resources Strategy for Europe in 2021, an Animal Genetic Resources Strategy was released by the European Regional Focal Point. Meanwhile, the European Commission selected a consortium led by Wageningen University and Research to set up the EU Reference Centre for Endangered Animal Breeds (EURC EAB), starting January 2023. In this event, we presented the main orientations of the AnGR Strategy as well as the consortium and plan of action of the EURC EAB.
The Animal Genetic Resources Strategy for Europe, and the recently established EU Reference Centre for Endangered Animal Breeds were presented in a side event during the FAO Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Animal Genetic Resources (18-20 January 2023). The side event was chaired by Montserrat Castellanos (Spain), president of the Steering Committee of the European Regional Focal Point for Animal Genetic Resources (ERFP). On behalf of ERFP, Danijela Bojkovski (Slovenia), presented the main orientations of the AnGR Strategy for Europe. She was followed by Sipke Joost Hiemstra (The Netherlands), director of the European Union Reference Centre for Endangered Animal Breeds (EURC-EAB), who presented the consortium and its plans for the next two years.
The webcast of the live event can be viewed via this link.
