On March 3 and 4, the Aranjuez Campus of Rey Juan Carlos University (URJC) hosted the meeting of the Working Group Chairs and Executive Committee of the European Cooperative Programme for Plant Genetic Resources (ECPGR), organized by ECPGR and the Global Change Research Institute (IICG-URJC). Thus, the IICG-URJC became the host in Aranjuez for an important international meeting, a meeting point for the future of plant genetic resources in Europe.
During the two intensive days, 29 international experts discussed the main challenges and opportunities for the conservation of plant genetic resources, which are fundamental for the future of agriculture and biodiversity.
Following the opening session, participants worked in various working groups focused on crops and key thematic areas, addressing issues such as:
🌾 fruit, vegetable, and cereal crops
🌿 crop wild relatives and in situ and on-farm conservation
🧬 cryopreservation, documentation, and information exchange
🌍 germplasm bank networks
The conclusions of these groups were presented to the Executive Committee, leading to strategic discussions on the implementation of ECPGR Phase XI, Grant Scheme projects, and collaboration priorities for the coming years.
This meeting—the second of its kind held by ECPGR in a decade—was a key opportunity to strengthen European scientific cooperation and advance the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources.
From the IICG-URJC, we thank all participants for their involvement and, especially, José María Iriondo Alegría and María Luisa Rubio Teso, researchers at the IICG-URJC, for organizing this meeting.
Science, European cooperation and conservation of plant biodiversity from Aranjuez for the future of agriculture.