FRUITDIV Guide on Access and Benefit-Sharing

The FRUITDIV project aims to enhance the knowledge and use of crop wild relatives of the most important fruit species in human diets, which have originated in Europe and neighbouring regions, i.e. apples, apricots and cherries. It wishes to do so by collecting and gathering knowledge on these plants to adopt the most efficient conservation strategies, as well as facilitating the use of the most interesting traits and characteristics in breeding, especially for lower-input production conditions. It also wishes to carry out all of its activities in conformity with the complex regulations that surround the collection, movement and use of genetic resources, with great transparency and equity.

In this context, access and benefit sharing (ABS) legislation plays a central role to build solid foundations for the fair and equitable use of all genetic resources collected and researched during the course of the project, but also beyond. As ABS is an inherently complex topic, with important differences in policy approaches between States, even on the European continent, as well as important consequences in case of non-compliance, FRUITDIV’s Task 1.5 is dedicated to track compliance with applicable ABS legislation.

This guide thus follows different  objectives :

·       to raise awareness and knowledge levels of FRUITDIV partners about the issue of ABS,

·       to provide a step by step guide for FRUITDIV partners that are collecting genetic resources and/or using them in their research,

·       to establish the internal FRUITDIV ABS compliance tracker system that will be managed by Task 1.5 leader.