NORDISKT GENRESURSCENTER

Their core work

NordGen (Nordic Genetic Resources Center) is an intergovernmental body that conserves and manages plant, farm animal, and forest genetic resources across the Nordic countries. In H2020 projects, they contribute expertise in gene bank management, in situ conservation of crop diversity, and genetic resource databases. Their practical value lies in providing access to well-characterized Nordic germplasm collections and conservation networks, which are essential for breeding programs targeting climate-resilient crops and protein-rich legumes.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

NordGen's H2020 activity spans a narrow window (2016–2017 start dates), making it difficult to identify a strong temporal shift. Their earliest project (IMAGE, 2016) focused broadly on innovative management of genetic resources across species, while the 2017 projects narrowed toward applied plant breeding (EUCLEG) and conservation networking (Farmers Pride). The trend suggests a move from general genetic resource management toward more applied, field-level work connecting gene banks with breeders and conservation practitioners.

NordGen appears to be shifting from custodial gene bank roles toward active participation in breeding pipelines and conservation policy networks, making them increasingly relevant for food security consortia.

How they like to work

NordGen has participated exclusively as a partner, never as coordinator, which is consistent with their role as a specialized resource provider rather than a project driver. With 79 unique partners across 25 countries from just 3 projects, they operate in large international consortia — suggesting they are a trusted, well-connected niche contributor. Working with them likely means accessing their collections and data infrastructure rather than expecting them to lead work packages.

Despite only 3 projects, NordGen has collaborated with 79 partners across 25 countries, reflecting their involvement in large-scale EU genetic resource initiatives. Their network spans most of Europe with no narrow geographic bias.

What sets them apart

NordGen is one of the few intergovernmental gene banks in Europe with a mandate spanning plant, animal, and forest genetic resources across all Nordic countries. For consortium builders, they offer something rare: direct access to well-curated Nordic germplasm collections and a pre-existing network of conservation practitioners. Their positioning at the intersection of gene banking and applied breeding makes them a natural bridge between conservation science and agricultural innovation.

Highlights from their portfolio

• IMAGE
  Largest EC contribution (EUR 132K) and focused on innovative genetic resource management across multiple species — the broadest scope of their projects.
• EUCLEG
  Directly addresses EU protein self-sufficiency through legume breeding, combining classical and genomic approaches — high policy relevance for food security.
• Farmers Pride
  Focused on building conservation networks and tools for in situ plant genetic resources, positioning NordGen in the policy-practice interface.