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La Notte P1*, Venerito P2 and Savino VN3
1Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council (CNR), Italy
2Centre for Research, Experimentation and Training in Agriculture Basile Caramia, Italy
3Foundation ITS Academy Agri Puglia, Italy
*Corresponding author:Pierfederico La Notte, CNR Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, Via Amendola 122/D, 70126 Bari, Italy
Submission: June 27, 2024;Published: July 12, 2024
ISSN : 2640-9275Volume4 Issue5
The conservation of woody fruit species, carried out mainly ex situ in the collection fields of large conservation centers with numerous species and hundreds of varieties, requiring highly qualified personnel, suitable equipment and facilities, is technically very complex and, above all, very expensive. The proposed study case in Apulia demonstrates that, although underestimated, the problem of the economic sustainability of on field conservation sites, like other phytosanitary and climatic factors being a concrete threat to the safety of genetic resources, can be overcome with a multifunctional approach, combining conservation with research activities, development of new products, varietal innovation, training and other related activities. In recent years, since agrobiodiversity and genetics were recognized as fundamental solutions to face the new challenges of climate change adaptation and sustainability of cultivation for safeguarding agriculture and global food security, also the importance and role of germplasm conservation centers changed considerably, having gained visibility, media attention, public consideration and related funding. By increasing the educational and information functions in the conservation centers, the synergy with tourist activities also becomes a concrete perspective to inform citizen and consumers, for attracting new interested visitors, bringing revenues for conservation and research, for promoting the territory and valorizing the local genetic resources.
Keywords:ex situ field conservation; Agrobiodiversity; Woody crops; Technical management; Economic sustainability; Breeding; Tourism; Multi-funtionality; Communication; Information
Abbreviations:CRSFA: Centre for Research, Experimentation and Training in Agriculture