On 11–13 September 2025, a meeting of the Board of the European Network of Gene Banks for Animal Genetic Resources (EUGENA) was held, co-organized by the National Research Institute of Animal Production, combined with the 61st Meeting of the Society for Low Temperature Biology (SLTB). The EUGENA Board meeting was chaired by Ewa Sosin, PhD Eng. (National Research Institute of Animal Production, Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Farm Animal Biodiversity Conservation and Horse Breeding), who moderated the discussions and summarized the key findings.
The three-day programme of the European network’s board meeting included a visit to the Research Station in Popielno, during which guests had the opportunity to learn about research work on biodiversity, both of wild and farm animals, as well as to see herds of Polish Konik horses, Polish Red cattle, and Polish Black-and-White cattle. In addition, scientific sessions on the cryopreservation of fish and birds were held in collaboration with SLTB, as well as a closed meeting of the EUGENA Board on new tools, quality management, and regulations for gene banks. During the session devoted to biodiversity conservation, Ewa Sosin, PhD Eng., gave a lecture entitled “Building an effective ex situ system for the conservation of animal genetic resources in Poland: challenges and progress,” in which she presented the latest achievements and prospects for the development of national ex situ conservation activities, also in the context of European cooperation.
The highlights of the meeting included presentations on innovative cryopreservation methods, a discussion on the inclusion of ex situ – in vivo facilities in the EUGENA network, and a discussion of plans to further strengthen European cooperation in the field of animal genetic resources conservation.
The meeting ended with a joint EUGENA and SLTB panel debate on sustainable biodiversity conservation, confirming the key role of gene banks in preserving animal diversity.
