PPP Pre-breeding in the Nordic Collaboration

In the Nordic countries some of the world’s northernmost agricultural areas are located. This region covers a widespread geographical area with widely differing environmental conditions for cultivation. Agriculture and horticulture in the Nordic countries require a plant breeding which develops varieties adapted to the particular growing conditions of the high north in terms of a demanding climate.

Plant breeding in the Nordic countries has a long and proud tradition. Over time, structural changes in the seed industry led to fewer Nordic breeding companies and as a consequence increased dependency on large multinational companies. However, the large multinational breeding companies do not directly breed nor have interest in developing adapted cultivars for a small and unique/particular market, such as for the Nordic region. In this context, the first steps were taken to strengthen the Nordic collaboration within plant breeding and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for Pre-Breeding was born. The collaboration of this partnership was aiming to promote the development of plant breeding of varieties adapted for the Nordic countries by supporting long-term breeding goals for Nordic agriculture and horticulture through collaborative pre-breeding projects in this pre-commercial part of the breeding chain.

These long-term breeding goals should/shall primarily concern adaptation to climate change, reduction of environmental impacts, and meeting new consumer and market demands. Thus promote sustainable use of genetic resources for food production and agriculture in the Nordic region and to support Nordic policies in the areas of green growth and bioeconomy.

Anders Nilsson and Roland von Bothmer should be mentioned for their dedicated work with setting up the Nordic PPP for pre-breeding, not least for the formation of this partnership. In 2008, the structure of the collaboration began to form and contacts were made with all the major Nordic breeding companies. Twelve out of thirteen Nordic plant breeding entities decided to join. Though, the companies all were competitors in different regional Nordic markets, there was a mutual understanding of the strong benefits with a common cooperation in the pre-commercial part of the prebreeding process. NordGen was appointed as secretariat and became responsible for the PPP economy and the communication between engaged contacts. Since 2011 public funding from the responsible countries in the respective Nordic countries have been granted and pooled. In 2012 the Steering Committee of the partnership was in place and a fruitful collaboration began.

• Pooled public funding while allowing some countries to move faster

• Project based participation from plant breeding companies

• Engagement of the best research environments for the respective projects

• 50/50-funding between public sources and industry

The projects within the PPP pre-breeding program have to be of value for the development of Nordic plant breeding, growers and its markets. Subjects identified to be of joint interest are still about broadening the genetic basis for plant breeding, not least important in a context of adaptation to climate change and reduction for environmental impacts. It is also of great importance to introduce specific genes for resistance to diseases and pests, qualities etc. in adapted genetic background. And not least, development of new technologies could contribute to speed up the long breeding process.

This folder compiles information about the four PPP-pre-breeding projects which have been active during the third period between 2018 to 2020 and what is expected to come in the future. The expectations are high but fair – the knowledge from these projects will contribute to a more sustainable and competitive agriculture and horticulture in the Nordic countries by supporting long-term breeding goals through these collaborative pre-breeding projects between Nordic public and private plant breeding entities.

/Birgitte Lund, Chair of the PPP Steering Committee