Gene banks in other countries

Who runs gene banks in other countries and how do they run their gene banks?

Photo: Kore Foundation.

United Kingdom

One of the oldest companies in Europe is what is now called Garden Organic in the UK. Back in the 1970s, Lawrence Hill, among others, took the initiative for a “library” of seeds that were no longer on the market – the Heritage Seed Library. The library/utility gene bank is still located in Ryton at Coventry University and the former Henry Doubleday Research Association, together with an open garden. Garden Organic has well over 800 varieties, half of which are grown and seeded in Ryton. The business includes a general manager, two interns and 10 volunteers, who are primarily responsible for pollination. All seeds from Garden Organic are also secured ex situ in a so-called black box at Warwick University.

Switzerland

In Switzerland, there is the utility gene bank ProSpecieRara, founded in 1982. This “bank” includes 1,400 varieties of garden and field crops, 1,900 field crops, 500 berry varieties, 1,900 fruit varieties and 800 ornamental plants. In addition to plants, this gene bank also includes 32 rare breeds of livestock. In addition to the central garden in Basel, ProSpecieRara also has 15 vegetable gardens, 121 fruit orchards, 72 berry orchards, two vineyards and 17 farms with livestock breeds in its network. There are 30 employees and over 10,000 donors. The foundation receives government subsidies and sells plant and animal products in regular grocery stores marked with its own ProSpecieRara logo.

Greece

Aegilops combines the interests of producers' rights to their own seeds and consumers' opportunities for free and greater food choice. This network also links to Greek pride, identity and tradition, and has more than 200 varieties, many of which are cereals. On the Greek islands there are many herbs that naturally only occur there, so-called endemic species (in a variety of habitats on the Greek islands). Old varieties are promoted in relation to how they are used in cooking.

Sources

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