|
Home
page | National
system for plant variety protection | System
for plant variety protection in EU | National
variety list | Marketing
of seeds and propagating material | Marketing
requirements | Register
of suppliers | Cooperation
and links | Announcements
and notifications
Section for Plant Varieties and Seed
Production
VII. PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
1. Legal basis
The plant genetic resources area is regulated by
the following acts:
2. Plant genetic resources for food and
agriculture
Plant genetic resources (PGR) for foor and
agriculture are characterised by their special nature and features and
are lately under the threat of their decrease in number or even
disappearance (genetic erosion) as a result of changes in the traditional farming system. Plant genetic resources for food and
agriculture are raw material indispensable for crop genetic
improvement, whether by means of farmers’ selection, classical plant
breeding or modern biotechnologies, and are essential in adapting to
unpredictable environmental changes and future human needs. And finally,
plant genetic resources, in particular the indigenous, domestic and old
varietes of agricultural plants, are the part of our cultural heritage, which
we should keep for future generations.
2.1 Plant genetic resources in the Republic
of Slovenia
In 1995 the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
Food appointed Commission for the preparation and implementation of the
programme Slovenian Plant Gene Bank (SPGB), which resulted in the
establishment of the plant
genetic bank. The nature of the SPGB is organisational, integrating adjusted
PGR preservation and study programnmes at the Agricultural Institute of
Slovenia in Ljubljana, at the Biotechnical Faculty, Agronomy Department in
Ljubljana, and at the Institute for Hop-growing and Brewing, Žalec.
Trustees from these institutions are responsible for individual species
of agricultural plants. Special criteria were established for estimating
individual working tasks within the programme, which encompasses
conservation, studying by descriptors, propagation, preparation of seeds
for long-term preservation in the central gene bank or in the working
collection for middle or long-term preservation, entry of data in
database and management in the register.
SPGB includes all Slovene species of agricultural
plants, which had been included in the national variety list,
Slovene indigenous populations, as well as old varieties, lines and
clones acquired from indigenous plants or which are important in terms
of varietal selection, ecotypes of meadow plants and wild relatives of
cultivated plants originating from natural habitats. Permanent
plantations of hops, vine, fruit plants and some medicinal and aromatic
plants are located in different areas in Slovenia. Genetic resources of
potatoes, some fruit plants, hops and some medicinal herbs and spices
are kept in vitro.
A single documentation and informational system
operates within the SPGB, connected via internet with international
databases associated with the European project EPGRIS. The uniform
documentation system includes basic plant descriptors (multi
crop passport descriptors) intended for the preparation of basic
database of plant genetic resources. Biotechnical Faculty established
the database MEDPLANT with a view to collect and process floristic and
analitical data related to medicinal plants and spices.
3. International Treaty on Plant Genetic
Resources for Food and Agriculture
International Treaty on plant genetic resources
for food and agriculture - ITPGRFA
was being prepared for many years by intergovernmental conference within
the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation FAO. The
International Treaty was adopted by the FAO conference in Rome on its 31st
meeting held on 3 November 2001 through the resolution No 3/2001.
The International Treaty came into force on 29
June 2004. The European Community as a FAO member signed the
Treaty in 2002 and approved this by means of Council Decision 2004/869/EC
of 24 February
2004.
The Republic of Slovenia ratified the International
Treaty in September 2005. The
instrument of ratification is currently in the process of being notified
to the general director of FAO. On the 90th day following that of
depositing the instrument of ratification, Slovenia shall acquire
position of the party to the instrument.
The purpose of the International Treaty is to
provide and promote international cooperation in conservation and
sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture,
which have
special nature and features and which are lately subject to threat of their decrease in number or even
disappearance (genetic erosion) as a result of the changes in
traditional farming system.
The objectives of the International Treaty
are conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food
and agriculture, as well as the right to equitably participate in
sharing benefits arising from the utilisation of plant genetic resources
for food and agriculture pursuant to the Convention on biological
diversity. It is all aiming at sustainable agriculture and assurance of
food safety.
Global Plan of Action for the conservation and
sustainable utilisation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture
represents the relevant framework for such kind of activities.
Each party to the Treaty shall, in pursuance with
internal legislation and in cooperation with other parties, promote
reseach work, conservation and sustainable utilisation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.
This shall include research and establishment of the condition of plant
genetic resources, collection of plant genetic resources, as well as
promotion of conservation of collections in situ and ex situ.
The PGR field in Slovenia shall still have to be
settled under the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for
Food and Agriculture. This shall include also the activity of preparing
the amended National Programme for the Conservation of Plant Genetic
Resources for Food and Agriculture.
-
national programme 
4. Other international cooperation
Slovenia is, together with 38 other European countries, an
equal member of the European Cooperative Programme for Crop Genetic
Resources Network ECP/GR, which is coordinated by the International
Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) in Rome. Data in relation to
some of our plant genetic resources are included in the trial European
database EURISCO.
Slovenia is the member of the South East European Development Network on
Plant Genetic Resources - SEEDNET). SEEDNET is cofinanced by
the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and
coordinated by the Sweedish Biodiversity Centre (CBM).
|
FURS
SLOVENE LEGISLATION: