The European Evaluation Network (EVA) shows how public-private collaboration can help unlock the potential of the genetic diversity conserved in European genebanks. By bringing together genebanks, research institutes and breeding companies, EVA strengthens the link between conservation and the practical use of plant genetic resources.

Through crop-specific networks, partners jointly characterise and evaluate selected genetic materials to generate valuable phenotypic and genotypic data. This makes it possible to identify traits of interest for crop improvement, such as disease resistance and climate resilience, while keeping genetic resources accessible within the public domain.

EVA demonstrates how structured partnerships can benefit all involved: genebanks gain stronger evaluation capacity and improved knowledge of their collections, while breeding companies gain early insight into underused diversity that can support future innovation.

For more inspiration, explore the other videos, or take a look at SeedNL’s 7 Guiding Principles.