Approximately 20 species of grasses and legumes play a significant role in forage production today, and most of these species can be found in the Norwegian flora. These plants thrive in various natural habitats and climate zones, showcasing a wide range of genetic variation. Timothy grass is the most important forage plant in Norway, and the traditional landrace variety, Grindstad, remains the most widely used cultivar in Southern Norway.
Traits derived from plants found in our wild or cultivated flora are extensively utilized in the breeding of new varieties of forage plants for Norwegian and northern agriculture. Norway has a special responsibility to preserve the genetic diversity of forage plants.
“Genetic variation in grasses and clovers used for feed is perhaps the most valuable genetic resource in our flora. Therefore, preserving these resources is a high priority. To ensure increased food production in Norway, we need new plant varieties and species that can contribute to more climate-friendly production,” said Minister of Agriculture and Food, Sandra Borch.
Varietal development is a lengthy process, taking between 10 and 15 years to create new cultivars within most species. Forage plants, in particular, require even more time, with up to 27 years from the first crossbreeding to the availability of a new forage plant variety in the market.
More about forage plants (nibio.no)
The Norwegian Genetic Resource Center was established by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food as a unit within NIBIO (Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research). The center coordinates expertise and activities related to the conservation and use of national genetic resources, with a focus on livestock, crops, and forest trees. Its mission is to monitor the status and contribute to the effective management of genetic resources.
More about the Norwegian Genetic Resource Center (nibio.no)
Preserving the World’s Genetic Diversity
In 2023, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault celebrates its 15th year of operation. The seed vault is the largest secure storage facility for the world’s crop diversity, with over 1.2 million seeds stored in its chambers located 130 meters into the mountainside. Situated 78 degrees north of the equator, the seed vault provides gene banks with optimal storage conditions for safety duplicates, free of charge. The seed vault was established and is owned by Norway, operating in collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Nordic Genetic Resource Center (NordGen), and the international organization Crop Trust.