ECPGR Concept for in situ conservation of crop wild relatives in Europe

There is an imperative to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for in situ conservation of the valuable crop wild relative (CWR) genetic resources native to Europe because historically these taxa have fallen between the conservation priorities of both the agricultural and conservation communities. These wild plant resources, which are related to the many socio-economically important crops cultivated in the region, contain a wide pool of genetic diversity that is of value for crop improvement. CWR are therefore an important resource for the maintenance of food security and for safeguarding the substantial economic gains to Europe through crop production in the region. However, despite their recognized value, the conservation of CWR has been largely neglected, in part due to the disconnection between the agencies responsible for the conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and those responsible for the conservation of wild plant populations in general or the habitats in which they grow.