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From cutting-edge research to work saving seeds in communities, even our small actions can have a big impact on saving crop diversity and putting it to good use. Read the latest news highlighting these efforts and more.
Latest Article
Colombia Chooses Its Opportunity Crops
In the final hours of the two-day workshop, the discussion really heated up. More than 40 stakeholders from all over Colombia had gathered at the event to select the best opportunity crops to promote out of a long list of 48....
23 Jul 2025
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Yam: Feast and Forest
Yet again, citizens of the region of Mahi yesterday celebrated the Feast of Yams. It was held at the Royal Palace of Savalon in the presence of a huge crowd and a group of dignitaries.
On the special day, King Tossoh Gbaguidi...
2 Dec 2014
2 Dec 2014
The African Rice the World Forgot
When a pair of reporters traveled to the Nigerian town of Ofada looking for its famously delicious local rice, they were surprised to find no rice at all.
Onabiyi’s mood took a downward turn when he was asked what had happened to...
2 Dec 2014
2 Dec 2014
How Does a Toxic Grasspea Save Lives?
Dr. Haileyesus Getahun was traveling in the remote north of his native Ethiopia when he encountered a painful sight.
After cruising over a beautiful but arid highlands and valleys for about 6 hours on a mule back, amidst a...
2 Dec 2014
2 Dec 2014
More Than Just Talking Shop: AGM 2014
By LUIGI GUARINO | Director of Science and Programs
All the genebank managers of the CGIAR centres get together every year as part of the CGIAR Research Programme (CRP) on Genebanks. It’s not really a research programme. Suffice...
22 Oct 2014
22 Oct 2014
Chickpea: The Economist and the Falafel
The Big Mac Index determines the purchasing power of different currencies by comparing prices of McDonald’s hamburgers in different countries, but in the Middle East, eating at global food chains is often more expensive than...
9 Oct 2014
9 Oct 2014
A Legend Retires: Jane Toll
On the 23rd of October 1987, a young crop collector named Jane Toll was taking part in a collecting mission in central Chad, helping the staff of the young country’s genebank seek out and conserve indigenous diversity.
“Our focus...
9 Oct 2014
9 Oct 2014
Planet Wheat
Every year farmers grow around $150 billion worth of wheat, providing 23% of the calories we live on. But some years it all goes wrong.
2010 was a bad year for wheat: a heat wave in Russia, cold weather in Canada, drought in China...
1 Jul 2014
1 Jul 2014
India Deposit to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault
A box containing 25 accessions of pigeon pea marks first-ever seed deposit from India to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault
In April 2014, India made its first seed deposit to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault with one box of 25...
15 May 2014
15 May 2014
The Eggplant CWR Pre-Breeding Project
Valencia, Spain (15-16 May 2014) – Why eggplants? Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is an important vegetable crop, especially in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. According to FAO statistics, eggplant ranks 6th, after...
5 May 2014
5 May 2014
Australian Deposit into Svalbard and Australia's Crop Wild Relatives
NEW AUSTRALIAN SEED DEPOSIT
Indigenous crop wild relatives, brassica, oats among seeds that find safe haven in Svalbard Global Seed Vault
It is cold and white outside. The wind blows snowflakes sideways. But the members of the...
12 Mar 2014
12 Mar 2014
Potatoes, the Underground Heroes
The potato is the world's number three food, feeding more than a billion people. But potato late blight may be the world's number one plant disease threat.
The fungus-like organism known as late blight is probably the worst...
16 Dec 2013
16 Dec 2013
Sorghum: Lessons from a survivor
Sorghum comes in a strong fifth among the world's important cereal crops – and nothing else matches its diversity of forms and uses.
A stalwart of hot and dry areas, sorghum demands few inputs and provides more than just grain in...
19 Nov 2013
19 Nov 2013