AUTHORS: Heike Nitsch

The aim of this case study is to analyse national strategies regarding the conservation of genetic resources in food and agriculture. A short overview is given on international guidelines concerning genetic resources, on legislative obstacles and on the situation and measures taken by the EU-15 and EU-10 to protect crop and livestock genetic diversity. The second part considers England, Germany, Poland and Italy as examples, presenting their programmes and measures for maintaining genetic diversity. The most important common problems and measures of the case study areas are highlighted and resulting recommendations for the conservation of crop and livestock genetic resources are given.