Niveau juridique : Union européenne
Texte de la question :
« The Genetic Resources Strategy for Europe[1] published in 2021 emphasises the importance of the agricultural genetic resources that indigenous breeds and varieties represent and their place in biodiversity, highlighting that ‘genetic resources are a vital subset of biodiversity which we rely on for our survival’. A multifaceted approach to bringing balance back into our ecosystems is fundamental to the success of achieving biodiversity conservation.
Currently the system architecture for biodiversity conservation in Ireland and elsewhere in Europe is characterised by the absence of an EU directive for genetic resources, a lack of prioritisation in the EU rural development plan, an absence of legislative protection in Ireland, together with ambiguity in common agricultural policy and national biodiversity action plans. This has systemically constrained research and conservation efforts. The resultant lack of research has diminished awareness of the importance of indigenous genetic for climate action in terms of food security and function in Ireland.
Can the Commission outline:
1.If consideration has been given to placing a focus on agricultural genetic resources in the European rural development plan and common agricultural policy?
2.If the Commision plans to encourage widening the focus of European Innovation Partnerships in Ireland to include a greater emphasis on agricultural genetic resources »
[1] www.genresbridge.eu/fileadmin/templates/Genres/Uploads/Documents/GRS4E.pdf
Réponse donnée par Mr Wojciechowski au nom de la Commission le 5 février 2024
«Under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plans 2023-2027 [1], support for genetic resources in agriculture and in forestry is programmed by all Member States, except Latvia and Denmark.
The indicative financial allocation for period 2023-2027 (excluding forest genetic resources) is EUR 600 022 467.1. This support is a continuation of a similar measure of the previous programming period.
The Commission supports Research & Innovation activities for conservation and use of agricultural genetic resources [2] whereas an EU Regulation [3] sets out rules on the specific status of endangered animal breeds and their preservation.
Moreover, an EU reference centre was created, which is responsible for the scientific and technical contribution to establish methods for the preservation of endangered breeds [4].
The Irish CAP Plan [5] includes an intervention which aims to (i) support the retention and, where possible, the increase of populations of specific rare breeds to ensure their long-term survival; (ii) conserve the authenticity of traditional apple tree varieties. The total indicative financial allocation is EUR 4 471 750.
The Irish Plan incorporates support for European Innovation Partnerships (EIP) [6] for agricultural productivity and sustainability. The EIP Operational Groups (OGs) are bottom-up projects that co-create innovative solutions for agriculture.
The Commission does not put forward thematic directions for the EIP OGs calls on national level, instead Member States design calls based on their specific needs. In Ireland, the EIP OGs intervention will contribute to halting and reversing biodiversity loss and could address the protection of genetic resources. Ireland has set a target of supporting 263 EIP OGs projects. »
[1] Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2 December 2021 establishing rules on support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the common agricultural policy (CAP Strategic Plans) and financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).
[2] More information can be found in the AgriResearch factsheet on genetic resources and breeding : agriculture.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-05/factsheet-agriresearch-genetic-resources-and-breeding_en.pdf
[3] Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2016 on zootechnical and genealogical conditions for the breeding, trade in and entry into the Union of purebred breeding animals, hybrid breeding pigs and the germinal products thereof and amending Regulation (EU) No 652/2014, Council Directives 89/608/EEC and 90/425/EEC and repealing certain acts in the area of animal breeding (‘Animal Breeding Regulation’) (Text with EEA relevance).
[4] eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32022R2077&qid=1667214849679
[5] agriculture.ec.europa.eu/cap-my-country/cap-strategic-plans/ireland_en
[6] ec.europa.eu/eip/agriculture/en/european-cap-network.html
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