About NordGen PlantsNordGen Plants is the Nordic genetic resource center for cultivated plants. We work with conservation and sustainable use of cultivated plants and their wild relatives. This includes both conserving the seeds, supplying researchers and others with seeds and their data as well as general information work about the value and importance of plant genetic resources. Through the Nordic co-operation, NordGen Plants stimulates the use of the material, and aims to create a synergy for the benefit of the Nordic region as well as on a global level. The guidelines for the Nordic co-operation is described in NordGen’s strategy and in “ Access and Rights to Genetic Resources in the Nordic Countries ”. NordGen has the operating responsibility for the Svalbard Global Seed Vault , where also a back-up of NordGen’s collections is stored. From the 1st of January 2009, NordGen also incorporates environmental issues. NordGen Plants participate in the international gene bank cooperation, for example through FAO , Bioversity and its European unit ECPGR , where NordGen Plants has a coordinating role for the Nordic countries. NordGen also operates some European crop data bases and participles in the development of an integrated European gene bank system – AEGIS . The international co-operation comprices the IT-PGRFA agreement and the consequences for handling of the plant genetic resources in the Nordic region. Nordgen Plants also participates in development projects in the SADC countries, EAPGREN (Eastern Africa), and in Tadjekistan and Kirgizistan. We also have cooperation with the Baltic countries and the Vavilov Institute in Russia. NordGen Plants staff has 15 work years, divided on around 20 people. We work in the seed laboratory and store, as scientists with responsibility working groups, in our molecular laboratory but also with more overall and general tasks. An important tool for the work of NordGen Plants is our four working groups , which consist of experts from each Nordic country, With their assistance, Nordgen’s activities gain approval from each country, and synergies between the countries are created. Other central working partners are the national programs and the Nordic ECPGR coordinators . NordGen Plants has evolved from the former Nordic Gene bank, which was founded in 1979. We have over 30 years of fruitful co-operation behind us. Responsible: Simon Jeppson |
