Through intensive exchange, research and visits, possibilities and opportunities, but also threats and weaknesses of the current state of conservation and cooperation should be worked out. Possible gaps and fields of action should be identified and funding opportunities and arguments for further conservation work should be compiled. Contacts with other conservation organizations should be established. In the area of variety verification on the basis of genetic analyses, the aim was to expand the knowledge base and to support and promote the cross-border exchange of molecular genetic reference lists.
Europe's fruit and berry diversity is an immense treasure and the basis of our future food supply. Only with a diverse genetic basis can a food system be further developed and adapted. To stay able to adapt to climate change and its consequences we need to keep our genetic resources alive. Also changes in cultivation methods, the reduction of the use of poisons, or changed methods for soil use and soil regeneration which will come caused by energy shortages, will bring the necessity to draw from our genetic resources. In current cultivation and marketing systems, there is no room for variety diversity. The preservation of existing varieties, and thus genetic diversity, is currently dependent on market-independent initiatives. The project work of ProSpecieRara has so far focused primarily on vegetables, the transfer of seed cultivation knowledge and the marketing of old varieties. The aim of this Erasmus+ project was to analyze the status quo of conservation work and cooperation on fruit and berries in Germany, Austria and neighboring countries and to find out whether and in which area ProSpecieRara should get involved in fruit variety conservation in the future.