www.checkbiotech.org ; www.raupp.info ; www.czu.cz

A large proportion of the total stock of Nordic plant-genetic resources has
been moved to ?rslev in Denmark. The seed collection, which is administered
by the Nordic Gene Bank, was inaugurated by Halldór Ásgrímsson, Secretary
General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, and the Danish Minister of Food,
Hans Christian Schmidt, March 2007.

The Nordic seed collection is now stored in three different Nordic
countries: the active collection in Alnarp, Sweden, the basic collection
backed up in ?rslev and a security facility on Svalbard in Norway. The
purpose of spreading the resources throughout the Region is to make sure
that the material is not lost, e.g. in the event of natural disaster or
power failure.

"I am convinced that this move provides a better way of protecting the Gene
Bank's collection," Ásgrimsson said at the official opening ?rslev.

The Nordic seed collection contains approximately 30,000 samples of things
like vegetables and cereals. Ásgrimsson reminded his audience that genetic
resources constitute the foundation for diversity of species and for
maintaining sustainable environments and eco-systems. He also reminded them
of the importance of conserving genetic resources during the process of
globalisation and, especially, during the current period of climate change.

"We may have a need for genetic material that is more resistant to drought,
for example. There is good reason to have all the genes in one place so we
can cope with the challenges we face in the future," the Secretary General
added.

The collection in Denmark is being preserved at the ?rslev Research Centre,
part of ?rhus University. Hans Christian Schmidt called plant genetics one
of his top priorities. He stressed the importance of conserving
plant-genetic resources, including in the event of any form of blight.

"Plants produce organisms to protect themselves against fungi and insects.
In particular, it is conceivable that older species, which were originally
cultivated without pesticides and fertilisers, might prove useful," he said.

[www.norden.org]