From 2024, March 25 is the day of Hungarian fruit landscape varieties

By: Trademagazin Date: 2024. 03. 25. 12:00

Preserving the genetic diversity of our cultivated crops is in the fundamental interest of domestic agriculture. These include the fruit landscape varieties that have long been present in the Carpathian Basin, which are more adaptable and resistant to climate and ecological changes. The Day of Hungarian Fruit Landscape Varieties draws attention to the conservation of the genetic diversity of these landraces, which from today – on the joint initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture and the MCC Climate Policy Institute – will be held every year on March 25, the day of Our Lady of Fruit Harvesters, Minister István Nagy announced on his social media page.

Domestic plant growing and horticultural culture has a long history in the Carpathian Basin. Recognized landscape varieties are those characteristic varieties that have developed in the course of continuous cultivation in individual landscapes, well adapted to the climatic conditions of the given region, as a result of natural and artificial selection. There are currently 81 state-recognized fruit landscape varieties. Most of these have now been pushed out of cultivation, but they can still be found in the Carpathian Basin. The collection and genebank preservation of these fruit landraces has been going on for decades in Hungary. In addition to the National Center for Biodiversity and Gene Preservation, many gene bank and private collections have been established as a result.