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What are genetic resources?

In everyday terms genetic resources range from, for example, fully mature plants, animals and microbes to seeds, cuttings, conserved embryos, eggs, and semen.

The UK's farm animal genetic resources have a particular role to play in managing the rural environment and assisting in maintaining wild biological diversity. Our indigenous livestock breeds are of great economic, social and cultural importance. The presence of livestock is a very positive feature for many who live in, work in or visit the countryside and livestock farming is frequently a core activity on which whole communities depend. The UK has a rich and diverse population of livestock breeds. There are over 160 native breeds of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry, horses & ponies in total, of which, approximately 100 are at risk.

Livestock farming, and the food industries based on it, have an important social role over and above their massive contribution to the UK economy. The continuing success of this sector depends heavily on the performance of the breeds and strains of farm livestock in use. Therefore, diverse genetic resources are vital as they allow the development of varieties of breeds to cope with new demands which range from increasing productivity to reducing environmental pollution.

The conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources for food and agriculture is a widely supported international objective contributing to efforts to eliminate global poverty and achieve world food security. The UK has a continuing role to play in this area in view of the rich diversity of plant varieties and animal breeds that it possesses.

Further information

Page last modified: 14 October 2009
Page published: 18 May 2009