Biodiversity of native farm animal breeds needs to be safeguarded for future challenges
On the International day for biological diversity, Mervi Honkatukia, Section Leader of NordGen Farm Animals, published a debate article on the importance of the Nordic native farm animal breeds.
Monday 22 May is the International day for biological diversity. It is the first time this day is honored since a global framework for addressing the critical loss of biodiversity was adopted at UN’s top meeting within the Convention on Biological diversity in December. One of the targets in the plan include the native farm animal breeds that have been an important part of the Nordic agriculture for hundreds of years. Throughout the centuries, these animals have adapted to our climate and way of life.
There are about 140 of those in the Nordic countries. Jutland cattle, Linderöd pig, Finnish landrace chicken, Icelandic goat and Norwegian fjord horse are just a few. The native farm animal breeds have several advantages. For example, they are able to continue perform with relatively scarce feed meaning that they cope better under anomalous conditions, which we know will be more common with climate change. A wide diversity of landraces is important for Nordic agriculture to be able to adapt to future, yet unknown, challenges.
But today, many of the breeds are threatened by extinction. The adaptive potential carried by the native farm animal breeds needs to be maintained and safeguarded, to copy the words of the global framework. To maintain the animals in their natural living conditions is always the best alternative. Concurrently NordGen has also, in cooperation with FAO, released guidelines for cryoconservation, in other words saving animal reproductive material in liquid nitrogen. Cryoconservation is an important tool in the conservation of the native farm animal breeds, but it needs to be put in use now – while the animals are still many enough to have a wide set of genes.
Joining the Nordic forces
An expert group recently stated that wide efforts are needed to conserve the Nordic farm animal breeds. Much would be gained by joining the Nordic forces in this area. The status of the Nordic native farm animal breeds is not much different from other countries. Fact is that most of the native European farm animal breeds are threatened by extinction as they have been replaced by more commercial breeds. The commercial breeds are crucial for enabling us to produce as much food as we do today. But that doesn’t mean that the traditional breeds are irrelevant. Their traits are decisive for our agriculture’s ability to adapt to future challenges. In addition, these animals are an important part of the biodiversity and ecosystems.
The text of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is ready to be put into practice. A joint effort for the native Nordic farm animal breeds could stand as model for the rest of Europe and the world to follow. NordGen – the Nordic countries’ knowledge centre for genetic resources – work with these issues every day and is ready to assist in the work. Mervi Honkatukia, Section Leader, NordGen Farm Animals