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Event

Crop Diversity Day Lima 2025

Preserving for Tomorrow: Innovative Solutions to Strengthen the Global Genebank System

Crop Diversity Day Lima 2025
Lima, Peru 21 Nov 2025 10:00 - 18:00 PET

Global Crop Diversity Day 2025 will take place at the International Potato Center (CIP) in Lima, Peru, just ahead of the Eleventh Governing Body meeting of the International Plant Treaty. Co-hosted by the Crop Trust, the International Plant Treaty Secretariat and CIP,  this second Crop Diversity Day will bring together experts and decision-makers from around the world to explore how to future-proof the global genebank system.

This year’s event will focus on the role of cryopreservation and the promotion of opportunity crops to strengthen the conservation and use of crop diversity. Key moments include:

  • The first deposit to CIP’s new cryo genebank, the first facility of its kind in South America
  • Launch of Vegetables4Life, a global initiative by WorldVeg to promote vegetable biodiversity
  • Expert discussions on strengthening the global system through innovation and collaboration

Outcomes of Crop Diversity Day 2025 will feed into discussions at the Treaty’s Governing Body session and help shape the future of global crop diversity conservation.

Program

10:00 - 10:30

Opening & Welcoming Remarks

  • Catherine Bertini, Chair of the Executive Board, Crop Trust
  • Simon Heck, Director General, CIP
10:30 - 11:15

Session 1

Closing the gaps in the global genebank system: Fireside chat with Geoff Hawtin

  • Geoffrey Hawtin OBE, 2024 World Food Prize Laureate
  • Noelle Anglin, Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, FAO
  • Joachim von Braun, Executive Board Member, Crop Trust
11:15 - 11:40

Session 2

Ceremonial Launch of Vegetables4Life

  • Maarten van Zonneveld, Genebank Manager, WorldVeg
  • Colin Khoury, Scientist, New York Botanical Garden
11:40 - 12:40

Session 3

Cryopreservation: From a regional hub to a global system

  • Rainer Vollmer, Associated Scientist - Cryopreservation, CIP
  • César Tapia, Genebank Manager, INIAP Ecuador
12:40 - 13:40 Lunch
13:40 - 14:40

Session 4

Diversifying production systems for resilience and food security: The role of opportunity crops

  • Dina Lida Gutiérrez Reynoso, Director General of Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, INIA
  • Oliver King, Director - Biodiversity, MSSRF
  • Logotonu Waqainabete, Programme Leader for Genetic Resources, CePaCT
  • Alejandro Argumedo, Program Director, ANDES
  • Stef de Haan, Senior scientist on Andean Food Systems, CIP
14:40 - 15:30

Session 5

Vegetables4Life: Feeling the heat, diversity hotspots that need us now

  • Maarten van Zonneveld, Genebank Manager, WorldVeg
  • Sognigbe N’Danikou, Scientist, WorldVeg
  • Enoch Achigan-Dako, Director of the Laborator yof Genetics, Biotechnology and Seed Science, University of Abomey-Calavi
  • Bettina Heider, Genetic Resources Specialist, CIP
  • Alvaro Toledo, Deputy Secretary, International Plant Treaty
15:30 - 16:30

Session 6

Looking ahead: Strengthening the global genebank system through collaboration

  • Marie Noelle Nbjiondjop, Head of Genetic Resources, Africa Rice

  • Stefan Schmitz, Executive Director, Crop Trust 

  • Simon Heck, Direcor General, CIP

  • Michael Keller, Secretary General, ISF 

  • Vania Azevedo, CGIAR Genebanks Director, CGIAR

16:30 - 17:00 Explore CIP campus
17:00 - 18:30 Reception

 

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