The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) plays a crucial role in agricultural sustainability by conserving and maintaining crop diversity. At ICRISAT, the gene bank preserves 11 major crops, including six mandate crops—sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet, chickpea, pigeon pea, and groundnut—along with five small millets. The primary goal of this initiative is to maintain genetic diversity and provide germplasm to researchers and farmers globally, ensuring food security and resilience in agriculture.

Sorghum Conservation: A Global Effort

ICRISAT hosts the world’s largest collection of sorghum germplasm, with over 41,000 accessions from 92 countries. This vast collection provides researchers with the necessary diversity to develop improved crop varieties. Additionally, ICRISAT conserves 23,000 pearl millet accessions from 52 countries and 11,500 accessions of small millets, including finger millet, foxtail millet, proso millet, barnyard millet, kodo millet, and little millet. These crops are vital for dryland agriculture and provide essential nutrition to millions.

The Role of Regeneration and Multiplication

Each season, ICRISAT evaluates its seed accessions to determine viability and availability. Poor-viability or low-quantity accessions undergo regeneration and multiplication to ensure their long-term conservation. Many of these accessions were originally collected as landraces from farmers’ fields, serving as a backup for the farming community. This process helps preserve agricultural heritage and ensures that rare varieties remain available for future use.

Conservation Strategies: Safeguarding Genetic Diversity

ICRISAT has successfully conserved around 111,000 accessions, which are safety duplicated in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. These seeds remain under ICRISAT’s ownership but serve as a secondary safeguard, ensuring that a backup exists in case of unforeseen circumstances. Each year, new accessions are added to the collection, reinforcing the institute’s commitment to long-term agricultural resilience.

The Need for Crop Diversity

Diversity within and among crops is essential for sustainable agriculture, food security, and nutritional balance. Expanding the genetic base of cultivated crops ensures that agriculture remains resilient against climate change, emerging diseases, and evolving consumer demands. Historically, breeding efforts focused primarily on yield, but today, researchers emphasize nutrition, climate adaptability, and disease resistance. Gene banks, such as ICRISAT’s, provide the genetic material necessary to address these challenges effectively.

Conclusion

ICRISAT’s gene bank plays a pivotal role in preserving crop diversity and ensuring food security for future generations. By maintaining extensive germplasm collections, the institute supports researchers and farmers in developing resilient, high-yielding, and nutritious crop varieties. As agricultural challenges evolve, gene banks will continue to be indispensable in responding to emerging threats, ensuring sustainable farming practices, and safeguarding global food security.