The role of local varieties in the context of biodiversity conservation

The role of local varieties in the context of biodiversity conservation Nikolaya Velcheva1, Ľubomír Mendel2 1 Agricultural Academy, Institute of Plant Genetic Resources “K. Malkov”, Sadovo, Bulgaria 2 National Agricultural and Food Centre, Research Institute of Plant Production, Piešťany, Slovak Republic e-mail: [email protected] Key words: genebank, collection missions, germplasm exchange, passport database, valorisation. Abstract Last decades a huge number of old and traditional varieties have been replaced by new commercial varieties. Under these circumstances, an approach for biodiversity conservation by using two strategies: on farm and ex situ preservation, represents a research priority. International collaboration between genebanks has become crucial in ensuring the global conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources in the framework of maintaining compatibility and interoperability in the European area. The Green Deal promotes ecological practices that have positive impact on protection of bio resources and support agricultural systems in the climate change. The purpose of the study is to improve documentation and visibility in the national genebanks of Bulgaria and Slovakia due qualitatively exchange of experience and establishing joint research plan based on their long-standing mission of storage and use of plant diversity. By expeditions for local accessions in the rural areas and international germplasm exchange using Standard Material Transfer Agreement the diversity of the National collections is increased, following the priorities of EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030. The results help valorisation of plant gene pool through open access to ex situ collections for promoting the role of local varieties in the biodiversity conservation and meeting the farmers’ needs. The Bulgarian and Slovakian genebank collections are documented by FAO/Bioversity descriptors and published with in the European catalogue EURISCO (http://eurisco.ecpgr.org). Acknowledgements This research work was carried out under the project DIGIVALPGR “Digitalization and valorisation of local plant genetic resources in Bulgaria and Slovakia in the framework of maintaining compatibility and interoperability in the European area” with the support of Bulgarian National Science Fund, Contract number КP-06-Slovakia/9/13.08.2024 and Slovak Research and Development Agency, Contract number SK-BG-23-0005/17.09.2024.