A European biobanking strategy for safeguarding macroalgal genetic material to ensure food security, biosecurity and conservation of biodiversity
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Biobanking (also known as germplasm banking) of genetic material is a well-established concept for preserving plant genetic diversity and also contributes to food security, conservation and restoration. Macroalgae currently represent a very small percentage of the strains in publicly accessible European germplasm banks, despite the increasing recognition of their contribution to achieving several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. There is no strategic coordination of existing macroalgal strains, which could have severe ecological and economic implications as species and their genetic diversity disappear rapidly due to local and global environmental stressors. In this opinion paper, we stress the importance of a coordinated European effort for preserving macroalgal genetic diversity and suggest the development of a three-pillared system to safeguard European macroalgal genetic material consisting of (1) a European Board of Macroalgal Genetic Resources (EBMGR) to provide supervision, support and coordination, (2) a network of germplasm banks consisting of currently existing and newly established infrastructures and (3) an interoperable databank integrating existing databanks. While it will be the task of the EBMGR to identify and coordinate priorities, we offer initial recommendations for preserving macroalgal genetic material, discuss the risks of inaction, and highlight the challenges that must be overcome.
Source: European Journal of Phycology
Authors: Laurie C. Hofmann, Janina Brakel, Inka Bartsch, Gabriel Montecinos Arismendi, Ricardo Bermejo, Manuela I. Parente, Emeline Creis, Olivier De Clerck, Bertrand Jacquemin, Jessica Knoop, Maike Lorenz, Levi Pompermayer Machado, Neusa Martins, Sotiris Orfanidis, Ian Probert, Cecilia Rad Menendez, Michael Ross, Ralf Rautenberger, Jessica Schiller, Ester A. Serrao, Sophie Steinhagen, Ronan Sulpice, Myriam Valero, Thomas Wichard
Institutions: Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Hochschule Bremerhaven, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity, Universidad de Málaga, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Ghent University, University of Göttingen, Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), University of Algarve, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Sorbonne Université, Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu Marin, Scottish Association For Marine Science, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, University of Gothenburg, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway, Friedrich Schiller University Jena
Language: English
Subfield: Oceanography
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4409922257