INTRODUCTION

We are looking into a changing world. Society faces major challenges with war in Europe and accompanying energy prices and increased inflation. At the same time there are major challenges with climate change, biodiversity loss, an increased demand for new plant-based solutions and a desire for greater self-sufficiency in food in the Nordic countries.

Genetic resources are the biological basis that will help us ensure future climate-smart solutions, resilience in our ecosystems and secure competitiveness in the Nordic countries. Therefore, NordGen's operations and research has a great influence on the major societal challenges in a changing world.

Biological and genetic diversity is one of the fundamental elements in the work for a sustainable future. Climate change is currently happening faster than nature’s ability to adapt, that is why our mission is more important than ever. Genetic diversity is a prerequisite for sustainable food production and for achieving several of the global sustainability goals. The Nordic Council of Ministers' vision of a green, competitive and socially sustainable Nordic region is thus high on NordGen's agenda.

Specifically, our task means that we handle a genebank with around 33,000 different seed samples that must be constantly analyzed, tested, propagated and distributed to researchers and plant breeders. We make conservation plans for the endangered livestock breeds and work for genetically strong and resilient forests. We participate in countless research projects and networks related to genetic resources at both Nordic, European and international levels, and we bring together industry professionals in the Nordic countries.

2022 was the year that NordGen moved to a new main office and knowledge center in Alnarp, Sweden. The new building, which is generously financed by the Swedish Ministry of Climate and Enterprise, is built for the future and will be of great importance for the general operations with a positive impact on the work environment. The premises provide new opportunities to support NordGen as the Nordic joint knowledge center for genetic resources and as genebank for agricultural and horticultural plants.

This building has a Nordic expression that fits NordGen's high sustainability goals – a wooden building including features such as sedum roof promoting local biodiversity and solar panels for more sustainable energy production. Recycled building material has been used as much as possible and the house is classified as gold, the highest standard in the environmental certification system for buildings in Sweden.

NordGen is in the strategic period 2020-2022, and in 2022, continuing efforts with conservation activities was emphasized with a high fulfillment of strategic goals. Special attention has been paid on the project "No regeneration backlog by 2024" and the safety back-up facility in Denmark.

The year 2022 also accelerated the work with utilization of the genetic resources within documentation, characterization and evaluation of the genetic resources.