Within the framework of this research project, the objectives are to:

(i) Characterise requirements of the different stakeholders with regards to the diversity of varieties derived from the on farm conservation / management / breeding;

(ii) Identify bottlenecks and challenges for participatory breeding and seed production;

(iii) Develop methodologies and know-how suited to targeted improvements of conservation, breeding, seed production and marketing;

(iv) Provide practical recommendations for the decision-making processes relating to the market release of seeds of landraces, conservation varieties and special 'amateur' varieties;

(v) Provide a practical framework for the protection and promotion of landraces, conservation varieties and varieties issued from the participatory plant breeding;

(vi)Provide the society at large with adequate information about scientific results and on-going research in order to answer to its legitimate demand for locally produced food and the preservation of endangered agro-biodiversity and to stimulate its involvement in decision-making

(vii)  Provide several regulations scenarios to cover most of the described situations in Europe according to the market, the farmers and the breeders needs and rights taking in account the experimental data about the status of the varieties and the seed qualities. These scenarios, from the adaptation of the current DUS regulation to the proposition of new legislations, will necessarily reflect the diversity of the varieties, their use and  breeding methods.

Associating public and private scientific competences and farmer knowledge about varieties and seeds will enable in an approach of participatory innovation development to i) organise participatory breeding and seed production in Europe and ii) provide practical recommendations for the preparation of the directive to facilitate the marketing of seeds of landraces, conservation varieties and special 'amateur' varieties.