(May 22, 2024) - ICRISAT joins the global community in celebrating the UN International Day for Biological Diversity, highlighting the Genebank's role in conserving and protecting agrobiodiversity.
Globally, biodiversity for food and agriculture is declining, threatening food security and reducing agriculture's resilience to climate change, pests, and diseases.
International Day for Biological Diversity, is underpinned by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which stresses the importance of valuing, conserving, restoring, and wisely using biodiversity to sustain a healthy planet. This year, the theme "Be Part of the Plan," urges stakeholders worldwide to take decisive action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.
The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) joins the global community in celebrating this important day. The ICRISAT Genebank, in collaboration with the CGIAR, Crop Trust and other partners, continues to protect agrobiodiversity as an International Public Good.
Agrobiodiversity is the foundation of ICRISAT's efforts around "Breeding for Better Varieties." The Genebank conserves three dryland legumes—chickpea, pigeonpea, and groundnut—and eight cereals, including pearl millet, sorghum, finger millet, proso millet, barnyard millet, kodo millet, little millet, and foxtail millet. These valuable resources are shared with researchers worldwide, offering solutions to agricultural challenges and enhancing global food security.
For more information, see the ICRISAT story.