The role of gene banks in finding and conserving our cultural heritage
Presented by Morten Rasmussen, NordGen – Plants,
P.O. Box 41, SE-23053 Alnarp, Sweden
morten.rasmussen@nordgen.org
Summarized by Lila Towle, Frøsamlerne
A gene bank is a collection of seeds and other plant reproductive material, primarily of cultivated
plants and their wild relatives. These collections represent as far as possible the gene pools of our
crop plants, that is, the genetic basis of agriculture and horticulture. The mandate of a gene bank is
to secure the conservation of these collected plant genetic resources and provide access to them.
Gene banks have primarily been concerned with ex situ or off-site conservation: dried and frozen
seed samples, vegetatively propagated plants growing in ‘clonal archives’ at different sites, in vitro
preservation (e.g. potatoes) of tiny growing tips in test tubes, or cryopreservation at extremely low
temperatures (e.g. growing tips of hops).
We are increasingly aware that in situ (on-farm, in nature) preservation of some species, plant
associations and forms of cultivation must be supported if we are to maintain them for the future.
These can be relict plants on threatened sites, on-farm areas of special biological interest such as
meadows, or wild crop relatives in marginal natural biotopes.
Gene banks are increasingly a part of regional and international networks – including the European
Cooperative Programme for PGR – and international regulations, such as the Biodiversity Convention (Rio Convention) and the 2001 International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources (ITPGRFA).
All gene banks have the responsibilities of acquiring the most important plant materials for their
region without undue duplication; successfully treating and storing samples; maintaining and regenerating the collection without losing or changing genetic material (e.g. by mixing or mislabelling seed samples, letting them cross-pollinate in the field, or selecting only a part of the genetic
diversity of a variety when saving the seed); and providing security through back-up collections.
In addition, a gene bank is responsible for registering, studying, describing, and documenting its
collection, and making both information and plant material available to researchers and other
interested users. All these activities are increasingly important and challenging. They are labour
intensive, require specialist knowledge and equipment (e.g. computer systems), and involve upgrading from earlier recording systems. They have to meet modern demands for openness, userfriendliness, and greater access to knowledge and information – including cultural and historical
information.
On January 1st, 2008, the 3 Nordic genetic resource institutions – including the Nordic Gene Bank
– became NordGen, the Nordic Genetic Resource Centre. In accordance with the strategy of the
Nordic Council of Ministers for sustainable development, its mandate includes the following:

Secure the whole range of Nordic genetic diversity in animal, agricultural, horticultural
and forest species

Actively promote Nordic cooperation on the sustainable utilisation and conservation of
genetic resources

Accentuate the value of societal & cultural history of genetic diversity within & between
species

Function as a vital knowledge and service centre for genetic resources in the public
domain – and provide the necessary knowledge to political decision makers

Contribute to international collaboration, openness, and fair exploitation of genetic
resources
This new and broader mandate makes necessary the development of new principles, tools and
programmes in all these strategic areas of activity. Among the developments taking place:

Establishment and operation of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault – a global secure seed
storage facility.

The development of new documents for acquisition of and access to plant genetic
resources, including new Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs) to meet the requirements
of multilateral agreements. One of these will in the future make it easier for “hobby users”
– both the general public and special collections, such as museum gardens and seed saver
organisations – to request seed and clone samples. At the same time, NordGen will become
better able to document the utilisation of its collected PGR.

Participation in new types of plant breeding relevant to agriculture in a changing climate,
such as the Nordic pre-breeding initiative. Modern breeding initiatives demand large
amounts of relevant, digitalized information, often in the form of molecular genetic
information. And modern breeding goals often involve “expensive” traits, those which are
complex, less easily observable and likely to involve collaborative, long-term investigation
– such as taste, nutritional quality, disease/pest resistance or adaptability to climate change.

Creation of relationships with new stakeholders on the gene scene: local food producers,
Slow Food and organic movements, “New Nordic Food”, museums and living history
centres, seed saver organisations, and enthusiasts of many types in the general public. All
these “new users” have high expectations: of documentation of origin (“genuineness”),
solid cultural history information (when, where, who, how & why?), information on
growing and eating quality, and if possible a “good story”. They expect digitally searchable, and if possible interactive, information – and quick access to gene bank material. And
in time to come, many of them will expect to be active participants and collaborators in the
process.