Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria (AGROSAVIA)

Overview

The Plant Germplasm Bank of AGROSAVIA is Colombia's national ex situ repository for plant genetic resources and one of the most significant in Latin America. It conserves over 36,000 accessions from more than 200 species. These include major food crops such as maize, beans, rice, cassava, potato, plantain, and cocoa, along with native species and opportunity crops.

The bank operates through a decentralized network of 13 research centers and 9 field genebanks strategically spread across the country, covering various agroecological zones. Germplasm is conserved using three complementary systems: seed storage, in vitro conservation, and field collections.

AGROSAVIA ensures compliance with both national and international frameworks such as the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and Andean Decision 391. It follows standardized internal protocols for conservation, regeneration, and documentation, supported by tools like GRIN-Global for data management and traceability.

Its advanced laboratories for molecular biology, plant biotechnology, and in vitro culture facilitate genetic and phytosanitary characterization. The bank links conservation directly with breeding and crop improvement programs, supporting food and nutrition security and adaptation to climate change.

Crop Trust facilitated an external review of genebank operations in November 2025. 

Mission

To conserve, characterize, and promote the responsible use of plant and biological genetic diversity to guarantee Colombia’s food and nutritional security and agricultural sustainability through specialized management, cataloguing, distribution, and technological support.

The Collection

• AGROSAVIA maintains 58 genetic collections (called “acervos genéticos”) encompassing 30 species or crop groups, conserved in field, seed, and in vitro systems.
• It conserves over 36,000 accessions, representing a broad diversity of agricultural species. This includes approximately 30,000 seed accessions, around 1,200 in vitro accessions, and roughly 4,000 field accessions across its research centers.
• Main staple crops conserved include cassava (Manihot esculenta) with 5,967 accessions, potatoes (Solanum spp.) with 2,985 accessions, and common beans (Phaseolus spp.) with 1,700 accessions.

Opportunity Crops in Colombia

The most widely grown opportunity crops in Colombia are arracacha (Arracacia xanthorrhiza), chayote (Sechium edule), and peach palm (Bactris gasipaes). Arracacha is a traditional Andean root crop valued for its high carbohydrate content and culinary versatility. Chayote is a climbing vegetable cultivated in humid regions but remains underdeveloped in research and commercialization. Peach palm is an Amazonian species that produces nutrient-rich fruits and edible hearts, primarily grown by smallholders.

The Banco Vegetal de Germoplasma at Agrosavia aims to collect and conserve native crops from the Andean region, including fruits, roots, tubers, and vegetables. These crops are important for food security in Colombia because they are climate-resilient, nutrient-dense, and adapted to diverse agro-ecological zones, offering sustainable alternatives that improve dietary diversity and support rural livelihoods.

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