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- NordGen Farm Animals
  NordGen Farm Animals is a service and knowledge center working to conserve and promote a sustainable management of the diversity of animal genetic resources found in the Nordic region.
- NordGen Forest
  NordGen Forest is a meeting place that brings together researchers, breeders, managers and others who work within the forest sector with the aim to enable better cooperation and promote genetic diversity in the Nordic forests.
- NordGen Plants
  NordGen Plants is responsible for the Nordic seed collection and operates within several different projects aiming at securing the genetic diversity among our crops.
- Seed and Potato Requests
  Each year, NordGen distributes more than 10 000 seed samples to researchers, plant breeders and other stakeholders. Hobby growers can also order seed samples.
- The Nordic Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for Pre-breeding
  NordGen is the secretariat for the Nordic PPP-collaboration where public and private stakeholders join forces to develop the Nordic agriculture.
- Svalbard Global Seed Vault
  Svalbard Global Seed Vault is the largest backup facility for the world's crop diversity. NordGen is responsible for the seed handling in the Seed Vault.
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- Organisation
  NordGen is an institution under the Nordic Council of Ministers, working as a gene bank and knowledge center to promote sustainable use and conservation of genetic resources within plants, farm animals and forestry. We are more than 30 highly qualified employees from all the Nordic countries. NordGen is organized under the Nordic Council of Ministers…
- Privacy Policy
  On this page you can read more about in which situations NordGen collects and processes personal information in different situations. Our aim is to make sure that you are always informed about how we process your data and feel comfortable about contacting us if you have any questions or complaints. NordGen’s is processing all personal…
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- International Collaboration
  During the 1960s, the realization that biological and genetic diversity was diminishing spread. Since then, genebanks have been established, genetic resources mapped and international agreements signed to try to reverse the trend. But genetic resources do not follow the boundaries drawn on a map. Preserving genetic resources is an international effort, so NordGen often works…
- Accessibility
  The website nordgen.org is the platform presenting the work of the Nordic Genetic Resource Centre (NordGen). It is important to NordGen that the information available on our web site is accessible to everyone and that you can easily find what you are looking for. This is an ongoing work so do not hesitate to contact…
- Career at NordGen
  Working at NordGen means working for future generations. As a NordGen employee, you share our vision of a society where a diversity of genetic resources leads to sustainable solutions. With us, garden engineers, scientists, economists, plant experts and many other professional groups work with the common goal of preserving and promoting sustainable use of genetic…
- Information for Media
  Welcome to NordGen’s press room with press releases, photos and videos from our work. We are happy to receive visits and interview requests from media representatives. The work carried out at NordGen is a matter for the entire Nordic population, as sustainable conservation and utilization of our genetic resources are a prerequisite for our future…
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  NordGen is to be a working place where both men, women and non-binary can thrive and progress professionally. Our belief is that a working place with gender balance will lead to a more creative and stimulating working environment. At NordGen, we find it important that both male and female perspectives are permeating the way we…
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  Main Office and NordGen Plants The Main office and NordGen Plants are located on the campus of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Alnarp. Alnarp is situated between Malmö and Lund in southern Sweden. Phone: +46 40 536 640 E-mail: info@nordgen.org Address: Växthusvägen 12, 234 56 Alnarp NordGen Farm Animals NordGen Farm Animals is…
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- Menyval
- Today, it was decided that the Nordic countries will give NordGen an additional funding of 10 million DKK over five years. This investment is an important step towards securing that NordGen can fulfill its mission as the Nordic countries’ common gene bank and knowledge center for genetic resources. During several years, NordGen has had a…
- Today, it was decided that the Nordic countries will give NordGen an additional funding of 10 million DKK over five years. This investment is an important step towards securing that NordGen can fulfill its mission as the Nordic countries’ common gene bank and knowledge center for genetic resources. During several years, NordGen has had a…

Home > News > Plants > NordGen receives 10 million DKK

NordGen receives 10 million DKK

Date: 2019.02.07

Today, it was decided that the Nordic countries will give NordGen an additional funding of 10 million DKK over five years. This investment is an important step towards securing that NordGen can fulfill its mission as the Nordic countries’ common gene bank and knowledge center for genetic resources.

During several years, NordGen has had a heavy workload which has lead to the fact that the institution has gotten behind on some of its responsibilities. It has become evident that an extra investment is needed. As the ministers for Nordic co-operation met in Iceland on Thursday, they decided to grant this investment – a much welcomed initiative which will lead to an important effort in the conservation of genetic diversity.

“This is wonderful news for us. This money means that we can conserve seeds that are important for our future food production” says Lise Lykke Steffensen, Managing Director of NordGen.

Important for the future

Genetic diversity is a prerequisite for us being able to develop crops that can withstand the challenges climate change put on agriculture. In a gene bank, such as NordGen, the genetic diversity is secured through keeping frozen seeds from about 35 000 different crop varieties. But the seeds can’t stay in the freezers forever. Sooner or later, they will die. A large and important task of gene bank management therefore is to verify that the seeds still can germinate. When the germination rate drops, it’s time to regenerate the seeds – that is, planting them in order to harvest new seeds which can replace the old ones.

Large seed donations

For about ten years ago, NordGen was given several large seed donations as many plant breeders went out of business. Since we didn’t have the capacity to tend to all these seeds, we just kept them in our freezers.

“When we now have been granted a total of 10 million DKK, we can finally take care of these seeds in a satisfying way. It’s of immense importance, for both us and future generations”, says Lise Lykke Steffensen.