Towards a Global Genebank System

Long-Term Support for Genebanks

In 2024, the Crop Trust continued to support individual genebanks directly, as well as encouraging them to work together to strengthen the conservation of crop diversity around the world.

Through its Endowment Fund, the Crop Trust provided USD 6.2 million towards the long-term support of crop collections held by international genebanks, including those managed by CGIAR.

In 2024, AfricaRice in Côte d’Ivoire became eligible for an LPA, which will support its genebank’s essential operations starting in 2025. The Long-Term Partnership Agreement with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines was renewed for another five years.

“We help international genebanks conserve the basic material that is needed for ensuring food security – the seeds,” says Sarada Krishnan, Director of Programs. “Without these seeds, we would not have a sustainable food system.”

Meanwhile, the Joint Funding Facility established together with the International Plant Treaty provided short-term support for the essential operations of the genebanks of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), World Agroforestry (ICRAF) and the World Vegetable Center. It also enabled the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) in Costa Rica to move its international coffee collection to a better site.

In late 2024, all genebanks that manage collection under Article 15 of the International Plant Treaty but are not part of CGIAR met for the first time to share knowledge and coordinate activities. The meeting was jointly organized with the International Plant Treaty Secretariat and took the decision to report its Governing Body as a group.

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault – a crucial component of the global genebank system as the ultimate safety backup for crop diversity – also received a contribution from the Crop Trust to help fund the facility’s operations. 

 

Genebank Quality and Risk Management

In 2024, six on-site visits by Crop Trust QMS experts, called “intensives”, were organized to provide a personalized approach to learning about international standards and addressing common challenges in genebank operations. Seventy-five staff members from eight genebanks participated. This included representatives from Yemen, Sudan and Lebanon, who attended despite civil unrest in their countries.

Documenting standard operating procedures (SOP) is a critical component of QMS. These are clear, step-by-step instructions on how to carry out specific genebank tasks. In 2024, the Crop Trust assisted in developing, auditing and editing 61 SOPs across 20 genebanks.

To facilitate capacity building and enhance competence in areas such as seed science, international policy and data management, the Crop Trust offered 24 learning events. These included meetings of communities of practice, seminars, workshops and webinars. A total of 567 participants attended these events.

“Our QMS has greatly contributed to the implementation of high-quality procedures, including the distribution of materials, the security of duplicate samples and in vitro conservation,” says César Tapia, the Director of the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIAP) genebank in Ecuador. “It has optimized processes related to conservation, regeneration and documentation. These improvements have enhanced the operational efficiency of the technical staff, ensuring the conservation and integrity of Ecuador's plant genetic resources.”