France
July 1, 2024
The biodiversity of cultivated plants offers tremendous potential for preparing our future, whether with a view to obtaining varieties that are less susceptible to disease or more tolerant to climatic conditions, or in terms of agricultural systems through the association of species in crop mixes or agroforestry. Some of this biodiversity also has a strong heritage value for French regions, which can be promoted through quality labels. To make sustainable use of this wealth of resources, it is vital to preserve them, to learn more about them and to disseminate information about them widely.
The Collections and Biodiversity Fund created in 2021 to preserve cultivated biodiversity and its wild relatives
Since its creation in 2021, the Collections & Biodiversity Fund, under the impetus of its 8 founding members and its chairwoman, Marion Guillou, has supported concrete projects of national or regional scope, analysed by its Scientific Committee, which guarantees scientific excellence and a diversity of viewpoints. In total, 8 projects have been supported over an average period of 4 years, to the amount of more than €310,000. These projects respond to the four ambitions of the Endowment Fund, which are to mobilise this diversity for tomorrow’s agriculture, to work collectively to conserve it, to make it available to diversify the food supply and to raise awareness of the importance of this biodiversity among young people and contractors alike. Through its ability to mobilise a network of experts, the Fund provides both human and financial support to project sponsors.
Very encouraging first results
The Fund has enabled collections to be safeguarded and made safe, for example, with the long-term conservation of potato resources through freezing. In addition, 12 heritage varieties have already been rediscovered in the Centre-Val de Loire and Drôme-Ardéchoise regions through field surveys of elderly people, former market-gardeners and enlightened amateurs. These initiatives involve a wide range of stakeholders, including the stakeholders of tomorrow through the involvement of schools.
At the same time, 116 vegetable and related species are being morphologically described and some are being evaluated for their tolerance to disease or high temperatures, or for their potential interest in the agricultural and food landscape.
An impact that needs to be amplified thanks to the commitment of each and every one of you
The Collections & Biodiversity Fund is continuing to raise funds from companies in order to amplify its impact by supporting local project leaders working to preserve and increase knowledge of cultivated biodiversity across all crop species.
Since this summer, private individuals have been able to support the Collections & Biodiversity Fund.
The Fund needs each and every one of you to raise awareness among the general public and companies of the importance of preserving the biodiversity of cultivated plants, so that these resources of the past can contribute to the future of “our country, our landscapes and our farmers”.
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