INTRODUCTION

As a research institution under the Nordic Council of Ministers, NordGen has an important social responsibility as we are working for the sustainable use and conservation of genetic resources that are important for Nordic agriculture and forestry. Climate change is currently happening faster than nature's ability to adapt, that is why our mission is more important than ever.

 

We have several important tasks ahead of us to ensure future biological climate-smart solutions, resilience in our ecosystems and to increase the competitiveness in the Nordic countries. NordGen plays an important role in this complex work at a time when society faces major challenges: to mitigate the effects of climate change, reduce the loss of biodiversity, the need for a more plant-based diet. There is also a desire for an increased food self-sufficiency in the Nordic countries, something that is becoming increasingly obvious due to the war in Ukraine.

Genetic diversity is a fundamental element for long-term and stable solutions, so that we can produce food, feed, fibers, energy, building materials, medicine and much more in the future. This is precisely why we work with conservation and sustainable utilization of genetic resources, tasks that requires knowledge and insight.

 

The year 2023 was a busy year with strengthened and new collaborations with universities, private companies and international organizations. It was the year when NordGen became the focal point for conferences, networks, workshops and other meeting places for knowledge exchange. Many new contacts, consortia and, not least, projects were created during the year. These collaborations will generate new research that will contribute to a sustainable development in the Nordic Region.

In 2023, NordGen began the first year of the current strategy period 2023-2025. In the strategy, NordGen continues with its conservation activities, and at the same time prioritizes research-based work focusing on documentation, characterization and evaluation of the genetic resources. During the year 2023, there has been particular focus on three major areas:

1. Research in collaboration with the profession and universities.

2. Reduction of back-logs.

3. Use and documentation of the genetic resources within farm animals and plants in particular.

All three areas have a major impact on the work at NordGen. At the same time, it has been a year in which great results have again been achieved for NordGen's entire operations. Read more about these activities in the following pages.