Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
Plants are at the beginning of the food chain and provide the basis - whether directly or through the use of animal exploitation - ground for our food, they also serve dietary and pharmaceutical purposes. They are also suppliers of basic and recyclables. Not least fulfill plants in the environment other tasks (landscaping, protection against soil erosion, etc.).
In Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture is any genetic material of plant origin of actual or potential value for food and agriculture.
The AGES and other Austrian genebanks maintain these plant genetic resources in terms of food security, so they are not lost forever and for uses, research and breeding is available.
Conservation of plant genetic resources
The different origins of plant genetic resources (PGR) contain different genetic information. Thus, they are simply lost, so is the job of the gene bank to preserve the viability. Plants can be either in their natural environment or habitat in which they were intended for, or in specially provided facilities or spaces are retained.
Ex-situ conservation of plant genetic resources
If genetic resources are not within but outside their natural habitat preserved (eg in a scale for the propagation field gene bank and into a freezing warehouse), one speaks of "ex situ - maintenance. The conservation is - where possible - take the form of seeds. Vegetatively proliferating species to be obtained in a scale from plot of the gene bank (many medicinal and aromatic herbs, vegetables).
Most agricultural species but are stored as seeds, which were carefully dried. First, in a long-term storage at -20 ° C, the other a second sample at cellar temperature in a warehouse for processing and forwarding of samples (so-called "working collection"). Not least, a further sample is kept in a long-term storage in another gene bank for security (Safety duplication). In the genebank in AGES Linz currently about 5000 patterns are stored. The long-term storage acts further to other genebanks in Germany and abroad as safety duplication storage.
In-situ / on farm conservation
The in - situ conservation is the conservation among the natural living conditions. For wild plants, this means the preservation of the habitat, so also the kind are obtained. If man created or influenced by species or variety, ie the in situ conservation, the preservation under the conditions for which they were created. Thus, the in situ conservation of e.g. Landraces or breeding places a conservation farm, so an on-farm conservation.
This conservation is an influence of natural, but also by other conditions (eg type of management) so that possible changes in the genetic material or the gene pool must be observed.
The AGES maintains a genebank for agricultural crops including medicinal and aromatic plants.
At the federal level, fruit trees and wine genetic resources are maintained by the Federal College and Research Institute for Viticulture and Fruit Growing in Klosterneuburg, vegetables by the Horticultural College and Research Institute Schoenbrunn and fodder plants by the Agricultural Research and Education Centre Raumberg-Gumpenstein (AREC). In addition the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Institute of Agronomy and Plant Breeding and the Institute of Horticulture and Viticulture (IGOW) in Vienna. Further stake holders are Agricultural Schools:
the Agricultural Colleges in St. Florian near Linz and in Warth/Burgenland.
At the country level, the Government of Tyrol, in Styria the Office of the Styrian Regional Government - Agricultural Trial Center and the Dpt. of Horticulture and Viticulture Haidegg.
In Carinthia the Horticultural Trial Station St. Andrae (OVA), Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry is active.
In the private sector receive or deal in particular breeder companies (Saatzucht Donau, Saatzucht Edelhof , Saatzucht Gleisdorf, NOe Saatbaugenossenschaft).
Last but not least there are NGO's and associations dealing with PGR: Arche Noah, Hortus and other associations.)
Genebanks outside Austria
In almost all countries have one or more genebanks. They usually result in about publicly accessible databases. Information collected from Europe are found in European Search EURISCO plant genetic resources.
The Convention on Biological Diversity are already 168 countries (including Austria, Federal Law Gazette 213/1995) is obliged to obtain their genetic resources.
Under the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture - ITPGRFA) also takes Austria (Federal Law Gazette Part III, No. 98/2006) on facilitating the exchange of plant genetic resources for food and Agriculture, and on benefit-sharing under the Multilateral System part. Along with the European Union total of 117 countries have already ratified it. With the ratification of these treaties and announcement in the Federal Gazette in Austria has also committed to preserving and passing on of genetic material. For an easier exchange of materials between these states is possible. The material exchange of plant genetic resources in the Annex I of this contract is based on a species referred to Standard Material Transfer Agreement.
The federal law on federal agencies for agriculture and agricultural federal agencies that federal institutions to maintain their discipline concerned genetic resources were assigned.
For the conservation of wild plant species provide for the conservation laws of the countries safeguards. Sun may e.g. Asked to be protected species is excavated and removed. These types of plants and, therefore, is a transfer within the meaning of the above-mentioned international agreements are not possible. In addition, care for the conservation of certain habitats are provided.