In July 2026, Spain joined 35 other European countries in AEGIS (A European Genebank Integrated System), the platform that connects national genebanks across Europe under a common framework for the long-term conservation of unique accessions of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

Through AEGIS, selected accessions – held by participating Associate Member institutions – form the European Collection, and are maintained to an agreed quality standard and made available under the terms of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), via a Standard Material Transfer Agreement. The European Collection functions as a virtual European genebank, drawing together accessions conserved by AEGIS Associate Members on behalf of ECPGR member countries, available for research, breeding, and training purposes.

AEGIS's goals include building a more efficient European system, encouraging collaborative conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA, facilitating exchange of genetic resources and information, and providing a mechanism for regional cooperation in implementing the Treaty.

By joining, Spain will be able to contribute to the European Collection, which currently holds 120,564 accessions, and will gain access to AEGIS's capacity-building initiatives.

AEGIS was established in 2009, when ten ECPGR member countries signed its founding Memorandum of Understanding. Membership remains open to any European country that is part of ECPGR and willing to make its plant genetic resources available under the ITPGRFA conditions.

Since 2024, two projects – New AEGIS and AEGIS Plus – have been strengthening the system with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH). These initiatives are improving documentation, harmonizing quality standards, expanding safety duplication, and building technical capacity among genebank curators across the network.