Farming and agriculture are vital to our survival and we have domesticated around 35 species of animals, many of which are farmed for food. Cows, sheep, chickens, pigs, goats and horses have been some of the animals whose domestication has played a key role in advancing human civilisation through added food security and these have been selectively bred over thousands of years to develop a variety of breeds, each of which offer particular characteristics to suit certain needs or local conditions. However, globalisation and standardisation have led to the loss of many of these diverse breeds, with many farmers now raising hybrids to meet the demands of large multinational commercial entities. Stefanie Klingel, from Arche Warder, is the Project Coordinator for the Animal Genetic Resources group working within the Productivity and Sustainability in Agriculture framework for the European Innovation Partnership (EIP).