III International Conference and Workshops „Mission: Biodiversity 2011” (scheduled for 23-24 September 2011), Old Varieties and Breeds Festival (25 September 2011) and The Day of Spelt (25 September 2011) will take place in Anna Vasa Palace and on a Castle ward in Brodnica. It is the third edition of the Conference and Workshops „Mission: Biodiversity”. Previous editions were hugely successful, each gathering about 100 participants, including scientific institutes professors from Poland and abroad, farmers, practitioners and supporters of agricultural biodiversity. This year we are adding two new events to the pot – Old Varieties and Breeds Festival and the Day of Spelt. Enjoying full support from previous edition participants and biodiversity enthusiasts, we have decided to initiate such events as there is virtually nothing going on in this area in Poland.

The main purpose of the Conference and Workshops series is to integrate academics and practitioners focused on agricultural biodiversity in Poland. Another important aspect is a chance to exchange experience with representatives of similar foreign organizations for the purpose of collaboration. During the opening day (23 September 2011) you will be able to take part in lectures about biodiversity, including:

• Issues surrounding law legislations in Europe (German lecturer),
• Issues surrounding law legislation in Poland (Polish lecturer),
• Vegetables, resources and the potential of old plant varieties (Polish lecturer),
• Interpretation of the law of the seed (Polish lecturer),
• Polish old dog breeds (Polish lecturer),
• Biodiversity – a way to combat poverty (Hungarian lecturer).

The conference will be attended by foreign lecturers coming from European countries, including Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland, and working for NGOs, specializing in the field of biodiversity.

On the second day of the conference (24 September 2011) you will be able to take part in workshops relating to agriculture and biodiversity, including:

• Legal issues surrounding agriculture in Poland,
• Ecological agriculture and biodiversity.

You will be able to learn from the experience of professionals working at scientific institutes and NGOs, as well as from practitioners, sharing their experience in the field of biodiversity.

One of the day’s highlights will include study visit on several farms where old bread animals are kept.

The Old Varieties and Breeds Festival together with the Day of the Speltare meant to introduce the theme of biodiversity to a broader public. We hope to reach the citizens of Brodnica and nearby areas, biodiversity enthusiasts, as well as numerous tourists who come to see the region of Brodnica lake district. Main highlights of the Old Varieties and Breeds Festival will include:

• An exhibition of old livestock breeds (cows, horses, pigs, sheep, poultry),
• An exhibition of old pigeon breeds,
• An exhibition of old dog breeds,
• A photo exhibition portraying old fruit plant varieties and old livestock breeds,
• Folk band performances.

The Day of Spelt will be an opportunity for producers to show their spelt products. Main highlights will include:

• Cooking in tandem with a famous chef,
• Tasting products made from spelt and from other old plant varieties
• An exhibition of old corn varieties,
• Spelt and old plant variety products fair (including vegetables and fruit)

The main organizer of the whole event is the Association For Old Varieties And Breeds in co-operation with Brodnica Municipality, Social Ecological Institute and Kujawsko-Pomorski Centre for Agricultural Support in Minikow.

A Honorary Patronage of the Old Varieties and Breeds Festival, the Day of Spelt and the Mission: Biodiversity 2011 conference was taken by:

• the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Marek Sawicki
• the Marshal of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship, Mr Piotr Franciszek Całbecki