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The exploration, collection, conservation, and sustainable use of genetic resources, which form the foundation of agricultural production and food supply, are key state responsibilities and strategic issues of national security, as well as food and nutrition security. These efforts reduce Hungary's dependence on foreign propagating materials and strengthen the independence of Hungarian agriculture. Additionally, Hungary’s traditional plant varieties and indigenous livestock breeds are part of the national heritage, public assets, and national identity, serving as symbols of the country. Hungary was among the first in the world to recognize the importance of gene conservation, and as a result, the preservation of genetic resources—both wild and agricultural—has been given priority in government programs.
To implement the government's intention to increase state involvement in gene conservation activities and tasks, the Ministry of Agriculure developed a Gene conservation strategy in 2017. The government adopted this strategy on February 20, 2018, through Government Resolution 1049/2018 (II. 20.), which focuses on the support for the development and key programs of gene conservation institutions.
The genet conservation strategy was launched in 2019, providing five years of support for the development of gene conservation institutions and their key programs, with a total of approximately 12.3 billion HUF in state funding. This represents a significant opportunity to preserve and develop genetic resources froming the basis of agriculture and food production, to strengthen the State’s role in geneconservation, and to establish a state gene bank network.
The two main pillars of this program were the former Centre for Plant Diversity (NöDiK) and the former Centre for Farm Animal Genetic Conservation (HáGK). The Insitute in Tápiószele, Hungary’s largest and most important plant gene bank, holds an invaluable collection of national strategic significance and ranks as the 17th largest gene bank globally and the 8th largest in Europe. The Institute in Gödöllő is a key institution for animal genetic conservation. Based on its unique in vivo poultry gene bank , it has expanded its breed conservation, gene bank research, and educational activities to include all livestock species, from honeybees to cattle.
To better align the institutional structure with the program’s objectives, the Ministry merged HáGK into NöDiK, establishing the National Centre for Biodiversity and Genetic Conservation (NBGK) on June 1, 2019. This new central institution plays a key role in both plant and farm animal genetic conservation. Its primary responsibilities include implementing the genet conservation program—significantly enhancing state involvement in the conservation of gene resources —coordinating national gene conservation tasks and organising gene banks into a network .
The primary goal of the gene conservation strategy is to support for the development of gene conservation institutions, maintain and expand species and breed populations in these institutions and within national park directorates, and establish a state gene bank network. This network will serve as a comprehensive inventory of valuable genetic resources, providing a separate duplicate for each variety in case of disease outbreaks, natural disasters, or simply as a basis of gene pool for the improvement of the variety.
Beyond the previously mentioned financial support, the strategy also includes funding for key programs and aims to identify and secure rare genetic resources still found in the Carpathian Basin.