The final report of the project to extend EURISCO for crop wild relatives (CWR) in situ data and prepare pilot countries' datasets is now publicly available. The project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity, marks a significant step forward in safeguarding the genetic diversity of wild plant species that underpin global food security and agricultural resilience.
The main achievements of the project include:
Data standards and governance. The project developed and endorsed a set of Principles for the Inclusion of CWR Data in EURISCO, defining data priorities, technical formats and data-flow mechanisms. National focal points were formally nominated in 17 countries, providing accountable channels for ongoing data transfer and governance.
Technical implementation. The EURISCO database schema and web interface were extended to accommodate in situ CWR data. New upload and update mechanisms, validation tools and user interfaces were developed specifically for national focal points. Templates and training workshops supported data submission across participating countries.
Country participation and capacity building. Starting with a small group of pilot countries, the project progressively expanded to 17 participating countries*. Tailored activities for each country included population prioritization, field data collection and establishing formal agreements with protected area managers.
Data contribution. By project completion, 16 countries had uploaded data to EURISCO, representing nearly 20,000 CWR populations. The database extension successfully links in situ population records with existing ex situ accession data, providing users with a more complete picture of the species’ conservation status.
The full report is available for download and provides detailed accounts of all activities, technical specifications, country-level progress, and recommendations for sustaining and expanding the initiative.
Read the final report
Visit the project page
*Albania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, North Macedonia, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, United Kingdom