University

of Ljubljana

Biotechnical

faculty

European Regional Focal Point (ERFP)

Danijela Bojkovski, Mojca Simčič - ERFP Secretariat -

Bonn, Germany 21st April 2016

ERFP

ERFP was established as a part of FAO´s global coordination structure for AnGR which is based upon national and regional focal points

ERFP acts as regional platform and plays a vital role in bringing together European National Coordinators (NCs) on AnGR and encourage co-operation in AnGR conservation activity across Europe

Objectives of ERFP To support the in situ and ex situ conservation and sustainable

use of AnGR in European countries

To facilitate the implementation of the FAO Global Plan of Action in Europe

To stimulate funding and organisation of regional projects, researches, workshops and national programmes for AnGR within the European Region

To develop and maintain regular contact and exchange of relevant information on AnGR horizontally among European NC‘s, with the FAO in Rome, and with other relevant European networks and institutions.

Member States of ERFP are represented in the

Assembly by National Coordinators who are

nominated by the respective Ministry.

Funding: NC for AnGR agreed that all ERFP member

countries pay a voluntary contribution to the

ERFP according to the GDP FAO / UN scale.

From 2015 on the annual budget of ERFP is

proposed at 123.000 Euro.

Operational structure

Structure of the ERFP

ERFP Assembly of National Coordinators

ERFP Steering Committee

ERFP Secretariat

Working Groups1 Ad hoc actions3 Task Forces2

Ex situ Conservation

Documentation and

Information

ABS

Collaboration with EU

Project xy

Workshop xy

Meeting xy

Note: 1 = Working Groups: established on a permanent basis 2 = Task Forces: established on a temporary basis to solve specific tasks

3 = Ad hoc Actions: projects on a project basis to solve specific tasks

Change in last four years

Projects

Activities of permanent structures or Ad hoc actions

ERFP Assembly of National Coordinators

Annual meeting – usually organized alongside with EAAP conference

Invited – NC‘s

Invited observers – EAAP, FAO, EC, NordGen, NGO‘s…..

Main decision body on:

Budget and annual work plan;

Provide technical and policy guidance to the operation of ERFP;

Responsibility of implementing the MYPOW;

Establishment/termination of WG, TF, Ad hoc actions.

Mandates and oversees work of the SC, Secretariat

ERFP Steering committee

5 members from European sub-regions elected for 4 years;

SC is headed by a chair (selected on personal basis, 3+3 years);

Evaluates Ad hoc Action proposals, funding decisions;

Mandate Secretariat in carrying out its decision and monitors

financial position of the ERFP;

Establishes short-term Task Forces;

Represents the ERFP communication – other institutions.

ERFP Secretariat

Rotational – every four year;

Distribute and Communicate information;

Support preparation of the Assembly;

Execute decision made by the Assembly and SC;

Provide support to the SC, WGs, TFs, Ad hoc Actions;

Manage financial issues and the ERFP budget;

Provide technical, financial reports;

ERFP website.

Working Groups

Established by Assembly on permanent basis;

Members of the WGs – experts, nominated by the NCs;

All countries can nominate members;

WG coordination – WG chair;

Two permanent WG:

WG Ex Situ Conservation,

WG Documentation and Information.

WG Ex Situ Conservation

Established in 2011 – first kick off meeting in 2011

AIM:

Exchange experiences and knowledge between European

countries;

Support the establishment, further development, efficiency and

effectivity of national gene banks for farm AnGR;

Support national gene banking programmes and initiatives;

Development of European strategy for gene banking,

documentation and other related issues;

Main emphasis related to cryopreservation programmes.

Activities of WG Ex Situ Conservation

Annual meetings, workshops (2011 – 2016):

Exchange of experiences on national cryopreservation programmes, national legal and institutional arrangements;

EFABIS uploading and CryoWEB - development of tools to facilitate data exchange;

Discuss needs, opportunities and feasibility of a coordinated European gene bank strategy – EUGENA.

Activities of WG Ex Situ Conservation

Workshop, developing the strategic documents EUGENA ToR, MoU, EFABIS data on cryoconservation;

EAAP conference – session „Gene bank strategies for long term conservation and to support in situ conservation”;

FAO/ERFP Workshop - In situ and Ex situ gene conservation in Europe,

EAAP conference – session „ABS“.

WG Documentation and Information

Established in 2011 – first kick off meeting in 2011

AIM:

Assist and advise NCs - recording and publishing AnGR information; Development, management of the European Information System

for AnGR (EFABIS);

Encourage regular updating of EFABIS and improvement of data quality;

Encourage the use of Cryoweb software to manage national genebanks;

Advise to the EAAP WG-AnGR on issues related with the documentation of AnGR.

Activities of WG Documentation and Information

Annual meetings, workshops (2011 – 2016):

NC‘s share experiences on Documentation and Information of

AnGR in their own countries;

EFABIS current status and future management;

Improving data quality in DAD-IS/FABISnet;

Development of the transboundary breed list;

Description of production environments new model development

(DAD-is);

DAD-IS – discussion on future DAD-IS maintenance

and development.

Task Forces

Established by Assembly or SC on temporary basis - specific tasks;

Mandate, budget, Chair and members – by Assembly or SC;

3 – 8 experts, Chair should be a member of the Assembly;

Establishment – identified needs to undertake joint action;

At the moment two active TF:

Access and benefit sharing;

EU Matters;

Risk status and indicators (closed).

Task Force ABS

First meeting in June 2011

AIM:

Building awareness on policy development following the adoption

of the Nagoya Protocol in 2010;

Consideration of potential implications of a new legal framework

on AnGR both in breeding and research sectors;

Contribution to FAO debate on access and benefit sharing in

genetic resources for food and agriculture;

Sharing experiences and knowledge between NC‘s on existing

practices of exchange and trade of AnGR and examples on

benefit sharing arrangements in animal breeding sector.

Activities of Task Force ABS

Collection of examples of current practices of exchange of

AnGR;

Preparation of the submission to FAO on voluntary codes of

conduct, guidelines and best practices, and/ or standards in

relation to access and benefit-sharing for animal genetic

resources for food and agriculture in response to the CGRFA

notification of 31st January 2013;

Collaboration in the EU Consultation forum;

Contribution to the discussion on EC guidelines on animal

breeding;

Development of MAA and MTA for EUGENA.

Activities of Task Force ABS

Submission (info doc) for consideration by: the Team of Technical

and Legal Experts on ABS 15th session of the

CGRFA

Task Force EU Matters

Established in 2014

AIM:

Maintain - appropriate liaison with the European Institutions;

Collaboration and support to EU on AnGR related matters;

Increase awareness within NC‘s related to AnGR legislation;

Support - in situ and ex situ conservation and sustainable use of

AnGR in EU countries;

To facilitate the implementation of the Global Plan of Action for

AnGR (GPA) in Europe.

Activities of Task Force EU Matters

ACTIVITIES:

Identification of relevant EU Institutions and potential

collaboration;

Identification of relevant legislation affecting AnGR;

Raising awareness among NC‘s related to Zootechnical

legislation.

Project vs. Ad hoc Actions

8 Calls of Action – 24 completed projects;

From 2010 - activities of permanent structures or Ad hoc

Actions, submitted by NC;

Evaluated and accepted by SC (project, workshop, meeting) to

solve specific short term problems;

Currently about 3 Ad hoc Actions annually;

Outcome: increased collaboration within/between countries;

Output: reports (reviews and guidelines on relevant topics);

Also a platform to initiate EU projects.

Examples of ERFP activities

Workshop for European NCs on strategies relevant for the genetic

management and sustainable use/breeding of AnGR;

Workshop for European NCs for the practical training of the

EFABIS upload tool;

Workshop for European NCs on Conservation and use of farm

animal genetic resources: challenges in practice;

Various aspects and possible evolution of in situ conservation in

Europe;

Project output:

First ERFP publication

2003

Saving a nearly forgotten transboundary breed, the Murinsulaner

Examples of Ad hoc Actions: Comments to the SoW

Examples of Ad hoc Actions

Examples of Ad hoc Actions

• Objective: to develop European/ERFP Web portal Network of Genebanks for AnGR in Europe

• To facilitate access to information about the gene bank collections in Europe

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE!