Genetic erosion and genetic 'pollution' in forage species and their wild relatives

The main objective of PGR Forum Workshop 5 was to agree on genetic erosion and pollution assessment methodologies for European crop wild relatives (CWRs). Participants considered how plant genetic erosion might be predicted and assessed using existing methodologies, while questioning its effectiveness. The workshop also considered how plant genetic pollution might be predicted and assessed. There are no established methodologies for assessing plant genetic pollution, but the threat of genetic pollution or introgression, either from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) or from conventionally bred crops, to wild species has become an increasing potential risk to the in situ genetic conservation of crop wild relatives.