Genetic Resources and Biotechnology Institute, Zimbabwe (GRBI)

The Crop Trust is a non-profit international organization dedicated to conserving crop diversity and making it available for use globally, forever, for the benefit of everyone.

We work with donors and partners to lead global projects that protect crop diversity, conserve crop wild relatives and develop technology to make this diversity accessible worldwide.

We seek professionals with a passion for global food security and a strong drive to contribute to our mission of conserving crop diversity for future generations.

Website: https://www.drss.gov.zw/index.php/library/library-services/genetic-resources

Location

Zimbabwe

Parent Organization

Government of Zimbabwe Department of Research and Specialist Services

Overview

The Genetic Resources and Biotechnology Institute is a center for research under the Department of Research and Specialist Services of the Ministry of Agriculture Mechanization and Irrigation Development which falls under the Research Services Division. The Institute also houses the National Genebank of Zimbabwe and is also part of the SADC Plant Genetic Resources Center Network of Genebanks

Their mandate is to conduct research, conservation, dissemination of information on the threatened, underutilized, indigenous and naturalized crop genetic resources in Zimbabwe through crop ecogeographic surveys, germplasm collections, characterization and evaluation and on farm conservation activities. In addition the institute is the focal point for the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) and all policy issues that impinge on plant genetic resources. GRBI specifically works with all underutilized, indigenous and naturalized crop genetic resources which include pearl millet, finger millet, sorghum, cowpea, Bambara nut, cucumbers, lagnaria and wild crop relatives.

Mission

To maintain and enhance the diversity of crop genetic resources which includes the threatened, underutilized, indigenous and naturalized crops that are important for food and agriculture through conducting and promoting research activities aimed at their conservation and sustainable utilization thereby achieving food security and eradicating extreme poverty and hunger.