Representatives from 31 European countries participate in the 18th meeting of the Steering Committee of the European Cooperative Programme for Plant Genetic Resources (ECPGR), taking place in Georgia from 1–4 June 2026. Observers from the Crop Trust, NordGen, EUROSEEDS and EUCARPIA will also attend.
The meeting is hosted by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia and the Scientific Research Center of Agriculture (LEPL).
Estonia is represented by Külli Annamaa, Head of the Genebank at the Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge (METK). She will deliver a presentation titled “Feedback from the Working Group Chairs’ Meeting”, providing insights into the activities, needs and perspectives of ECPGR’s thematic working groups.
Photos: ECPGR
The Steering Committee is ECPGR’s main decision‑making body, composed of National Coordinators from 32 countries. Its role is to guide and coordinate European collaboration on the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.
During the meeting, delegates will review the activities and achievements of the first two and a half years of ECPGR Phase XI (2024–2028) and discuss priorities for the remainder of the programme period. Updates on activities of the European Search Catalogue for Plant Genetic Resources (EURISCO), the European Genebank Integrated System (AEGIS) and the European Evaluation Network (EVA) will be presented.
The Steering Committee will focus on strengthening collaboration to improve the quality of conservation and to support the innovative use of plant genetic resources. Cooperation at the European level remains essential to safeguard plant diversity and to address future challenges effectively.
Estonia’s participation reflects the country’s commitment to safeguarding plant genetic resources and contributing to European level cooperation in this strategically important field.