Development of a National Report on Animal Genetic Resources, the Netherlands

1. Development of a National Report on Animal Genetic Resources, the Netherlands Experiences and outcomes Start follow-up actions within Europe S.J. Hiemstra (NC-Netherlands) Caïro, 30 August 2002

2. The process • Characteristics of Dutch case • Dutch policy priorities • International priorities • Suggestions for follow-up

3. The process • September 01 - September 02 • National Consultative Committee: • chair: Ministry of Agriculture • secretary/projectleader: NC-Neth • 10 stake-holders (industry, government, NGO) • Workshop 50 persons: april 2002

4. The process Good: • involvement of NCC-stakeholders • workshop: enthousiasm invitated stakeholders • discussion on overall picture AnGR Points for attention: • approvement within Ministry: filter + time-consuming • how to keep stake holders involved • usefull guidelines, but do not use too strict • difficult synthesis of many and different info

5. Introduction • Report is new starting point for policy AnGR • Limited to important farm animal species(cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep, goats, horses) • Primary and secundary functions of farm animals • Balance between rare breeds/lines/varieties and widely used breeds/lines/varieties

6. Animal production in the Netherlands • major part of animal products is exported • intensification and economies of scale • further expansion limited by government • increasing interest in ‘new’ functions of farm animals

7. State of use of domestic animal diversity • increasing proportion of food is produced by decreasing number of breeds • international market for genetic resources • increasing uniformity in global animal production systems • decreasing number of (inter)national breeding firms • genetic erosion and endangered breeds

8. Breeds and lines with major contribution to food production, and with breeding population in the Netherlands

9. State of conservation • Conservation by development and use • policies of breeding organisations/certification • genetic risk management • In situ conservation programmes • Rare Breed Foundation • EU/national subsidies for rare breeds • ‘New functions’ of old breeds • Ex situ conservation programmes • Gene bank / Gene Bank Foundation

12. Changing demands “Lessons from the past”/Evaluation of • EU policy • Dutch policy on genetic resources • Policy for ex situ conservaton • Policy for in situ conservation • Veterinary policy • Other functions / policy nature/landscape • Breeding programmes and practices

13. Future demands and trends • Global developments • European developments • Restucturing Dutch animal production (Robust) Trends • globalisation and regionalisation • diversification and more added value • worldwide increase in demand animal product • differentiation production systems/methods • expansion of functions for farm animals • attention to resistance and natural behaviour (welfare)

14. State of national capacities • Including government, research, education, private sector, NGO’s • Make more and better use of available knowledge ! • Improve cooperation between government, private sector, NGO’s and research ! • Limited capacity for ‘in situ’ + ‘ex situ’ • Knowledge transfer and public education • International cooperation

15. National priorities Basic principles • Secure the existing genetic diversity (efficient and effective) • Primarily responsibility for Dutch diversity and international “co-responsibility” • Joint responsibility public-private-NGO’s • Ex situ conservation important to conserve genes • Realise that international dimension has substantial influence on conservation results

16. Policy priorities Start: 2002 Dutch policy document: Sources of Existence: Conservation and the sustainable use of genetic diversity • measures towards conservation • promoting sustainable application possibilities • cooperation towards fair benefit sharing

17. Policy priorities (1) • Establishment of Platform Genetic Resources • Coordinating Veterinary and biodiversity policies • Stimulating in situ conservation of rare breedsincl. nature and landscape management

18. Policy priorities (2) • Stimulating Ex Situ Conservation (Gene Bank) • Monitoring and characterisation • Development of knowledge and technology • Transparancy in breeding policies

19. Policy priorities (3) • Valuation of genetic diversity • Raising awareness • Stimulating desirable production systems

20. International/ European collaboration Suggestions for cooperation: • regional analysis of SoW country reports • ‘in situ’ conservation and breed development • gene bank development • characterisation and valuation of breeds • improve veterinary policies (and other) • research and technology development

21. In situ conservation and breed development • Policy and technical level • Regional (cross-border) breed- and market-development • Exchange of experiences/knowledge and information on ‘in situ management’ • Characterisation and valuation • Further development of criteria for (subsidy for) rare breeds

22. Ex situ conservation (Gene Bank) • Organisational/management aspects • Legal aspects: ownership and access to collections • Material transfer protocols/agreements • Intake procedures and material aquisition agreement • Exchange knowledge and experiences • Optimization cryo-conservation protocols and maximizing diversity with minimum intake. • Veterinary aspects

23. Veterinary policy • Exceptions in eradication programmes • Veterinary status of gene bank material • (Inter)national exchange and use of valuable genetic material with lower veterinary status • Regional or international distribution • Rescue plan (international) in case of emergencies