The Plant Heritage Award

The Plant Heritage Award was created in order to support awareness, engagement and action to preserve and use plant genetic resources. It was awarded for the first time in 2006. The candidates are proposed to the Norwegian Centre for Genetic Resources at the Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO) and approved by its advisory board. The award is meant as an appreciation for special efforts that promote the goal of conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic diversity. It can be awarded to individuals as well as institutions and is not exclusively directed towards farmers. However, since it was established, several farmers have been awarded the prize, which consists of a unique lithography by a Norwegian artist as well as a diploma. Thus, the prize also recognizes the important efforts of farmers in addition to those of researchers and formal institutions in conserving PGRFA and ensuring sustainable use of those resources. It creates an annual event that gives an opportunity to strengthen awareness on the importance of conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA, thus addressing the general public, other farmers as well as the political leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, amongst other public institutions.