The SAVE partner organizations meet annually in a different partner country for the “SAVE Annual Meeting,” which also hosts the “European Seminar on Agrobiodiversity” with varying thematic focuses. At this meeting, the SAVE bodies hold their sessions, and there is an opportunity for networking and maintaining contacts with SAVE partners and guests.
2026: SAVE Annual Meeting The Netherlands
14-16 September 2026
Dear SAVE network members and partners,
we have the pleasure to invite you to the
the SAVE Annual Meeting 2026
that will be held in Wageningen – The Netherlands from the 14th until the 16th of September 2026.
Organisation of this traditional meeting is this year in the hands of the Dutch Stichting Zeldzame Huisdierrassen (SZH).
Monday the 14th of Sept.
On Monday the 14th we start at the University of Wageningen at 13.00 h with presentations from the SZH and the Centre of Genetic Resources (https://www.wur.nl/en/cgn). We also kindly ask our member organisations to prepare a pitch talk to present milestons or lessons learned.
Between 16.00h and 17.00 h the Board of Directors have their boardmeeting. All others will get a tour at the genebank.
At 17.00h it is time to go tot he Hotel to fresh up. Dinner will be in the hotel.
Tuesday the 15th of Sept.
Excursion day. SZH prepares a tour to farmers and locations that are unique in their way of saving rare breeds and seeds and give traditional heritage a good future perspective.
Busses will be arranged for this day.
We close the day with a cosy dinner and Arca Deli Award winners are announced.
Wednesday the 16th of Sept.
Is the symposium day. The symposium will be held in Nol in ‘t Bosch.
Topics for discussion:
The programme will have a focus on the animal side. Nevertheless we try to organise parrallel sessions for those who have needs to discuss challenges on the plant side.
8.-10 September 2025
06. – 08. September 2022
Kattendorf, Germany
16th Europ. Seminar zur Agrobiodiversität
Definition of Breeds
ERFP 2022 and Definition of a Breed
25. – 28. August 2019
Vaalbeek, Belgium
15th European Agrobiodiversity Seminar
IMAGE: Dialogue Forum, Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Rules
Presentation:
> E. Martyniuk, Warsaw University of Life Sciences: Access and Benefit sharing in animal breeding, conservation and research
> A. Kozlowska, EU Commission: EU ABS legal framework
Further information:
> DG ENV, ABS website: http://ec.europa.
> Convention on Biological Diversity, Nagoya Protocol: https://www.cbd.int
> Access and Benefit Sharing Clearing House websites: https://absch.cbd.int
25. – 28. August 2019
Vaalbeek, Belgium
15th European Agrobiodiversity Seminar
Presentations:
> Greek Society for the Protection of Indigenous Animal Breeds: AMALTHIA
> ALBAGENE A brief overview on conservation and sustainable use of Albanian AnGRFA
> Nationale Boomgaarden Stichting: Biodiversity for a more sustainable Fruit Growing
> Old Danish Livestock Breeds
> Patrijske-Beer
> Steunpunt Levend Erfgoed: Living Heritage court label
> SZH: Successful business with rare breeds
> SZH Pitch Talk
> Conservation and use of Witloof: The Witloof Seedbank
> Council of Cooperation Partners and IMAGE Outcomes Survey Council Report and IMAGE Survey
24. – 27. June 2018
Kozard, Hungary
14th European Agrobiodiversity Seminar
Presentations:
> SZH/Geert Boink: Disease Management and Protection for endangered Breeds
> SAVE Project Office/Waltraud Kugler: Innovations and ethical issues for the cryoconservation of animal genetic resources
> De Oerakker/Obe Bootsma: Oranje Lijst
> GEH/Antje Feldmann: Concepts for the Marketing of Products of rare Breeds in Germany
> REDD/Markus Luethi: Linking Nature protection with sustainable rural development in Bulgaria 2012 – 2017
> PatriMont/Markus Stadelmann: Conservation of the Black and spotted Alpine pig
> PSR/Philippe Ammann: A Label for Agrobiodiversity Products
07. – 09. September 2017
Ponte de Lima, Portugal
13th European Agrobiodiversity Seminar
Presentations:
> AMIBIA: Homemade Poultry Slaughter
> SAVE Project Office/Waltraud Kugler: Chances and Obstacles of current Rules & Consultations
> Tim Lambert: Brief history of Portugal
> SZH/Geert Boink: consequences of the end of the milkquota
> GEH/Antje Feldmann: Health Management and Disease Protection
> SZH/Nonja Remijn: Getting politics and crowd involved in protecting rare breeds
> Ana Maria Barata/INIAV: Conservation and Valorization of Plant Genetic Resources
15. – 17. September 2016
Metlika Nature Park, Slovenia
12th European Agrobiodiversity Seminar
“How does the SAVE Network contribute to Agro-Biodiversity in Europe?”
Presentations:
> Drago Kompan: The richness on diversity of Slovenia
> Boris Grabrijan: Comprehensive view on biodiversity in Regional Park KOLPA
> Obe Bootsma: Heritage crops: conservation through use: The Dutch approach
> Cornelia Lehmann: Preservation of vegetables through establishment a network
> Vladimir Meglic: Slovenian vegetable landraces and their re-introduction
> Metka Candek-Potokar: TREASURE: Multifunctionality of local pig breeds
> Antje Feldmann: Health management and disease protection for ANGR
Short Presentations of the participating Network Partners:
Erhaltung Nutztiere, Slowenien
SLE, Belgien
SZH und DE Oerakker, Holland
EIP Animal Conservation Schleswig-Holstein, Deutschland
VERN, Deutschland
GEH, Deutschland
PSR, Schweiz
REDD, Ungarn
UVMB, Ungarn
RARE, Italien
Rete Semi Rurali, Italien
FERA, Portugal
Amalthia, Griechenland
10. – 12. September 2015
Lake Kerkini National Park, Greece
11th European Agrobiodiversity Seminar
“Unrecognised and Isolated Populations of rare breeds and varieties”
Presentations:
> Kostas Papaioanou: Welcome Letter
> Chryssanthi Intzidou: Introduction on Lake Kerkini and management issues of the National Park
> Iosif Bizelis: Current situation of autochthonous breeds in Greece
> Vasilis Lekkas: Unrecognised and isolated Populations of Rare breeds in Greece
> Jelena Ramljak / Waltraud Kugler: BushaLive’ and DNA of Greek Cattle Breeds
> Panagiota Koutsouli: Μanaging small and isolated populations
> Andras Gaspardy: Szekely Horse
> Kapllan Sulaj: Livestock Values and Biodiversity Conservation in the Prespa National Park in Albania – Case Study on Cattle Population and Genetic Diversity
> Poster Amalthia
Do you want to know more about previous conferences? You can find them in our archive along with the associated publications.