Safeguarding Global Food Security, CGIAR Germplasm Health Units Pave the Way for Safe Seed Exchange
Media Release
Hyderabad, India – As climate change continues to reshape agricultural landscapes worldwide, ensuring the health and safe movement of germplasm becomes increasingly critical for developing resilient crops that can thrive under these conditions. The CGIAR - Germplasm Health Units (GHUs) are at the forefront of this mission, ensuring that researchers and farmers have access to disease-free genetic resources essential for sustainable agriculture.
In support of these efforts, the CGIAR-GHUs successfully concluded the 8th Working Group meeting, hosted by ICRISAT’s Germplasm Health/Plant Quarantine Unit on 4 April 2025.
Leaders from CGIAR institutions, the World Vegetable Center, and the SPC Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees (CePaCT) discussed transformative advancements in germplasm health and its essential role in securing global food systems. The group also explored strategies to facilitate the safe movement of germplasm across borders, which is crucial for breeding programs.
Germplasm—living genetic material essential for crop improvement—forms the backbone of agricultural innovation. Its international exchange is vital for developing improved crop varieties that can meet the demands of a growing global population. However, its transboundary movement carries risks of spreading pests and diseases that could jeopardize crop production and food security. The CGIAR-GHUs play a critical role in mitigating these risks through rigorous health testing and compliance with phytosanitary regulations.
“Germplasm conservation and the distribution of disease-free genetic material are essential foundations for advancing crop improvement, ensuring global food security, and strengthening agricultural resilience. As climate change intensifies, our research programs and conservation efforts must adapt swiftly to meet these emerging challenges,” said Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICRISAT.
Dr Rajan Sharma, Cluster Leader-Crop Protection and Seed Health and Head of ICRISAT-GHU, emphasized the importance of collaboration with the National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs) to ensure safe germplasm exchange.
“ICRISAT works closely with the ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), which has facilitated the export of 1.36 million seed samples to 176 countries and the import of 218,000 seed samples from 96 countries for conservation and utilization by breeding programs,” explained Dr Sharma.
The meeting also highlighted cutting-edge technologies that can transform germplasm health practices. Multispectral imaging, nanopore sequencing, and artificial intelligence (AI) have emerged as frontier tools in pest detection and diagnostics.
Dr Sean Mayes, Global Research Program Director – Accelerated Crop Improvement, ICRISAT, underscored the significant role these advancements play in ensuring the safe conservation and distribution of healthy germplasm.
"These innovations can enable faster and more precise pathogen detection, helping ensure that germplasm remains disease-free during international exchange—a critical advancement in managing transboundary pest risks intensified by climate change," said Dr Mayes.
Interactive sessions explored the GHU operational plans for 2025-2030, quality management systems, cross-center initiatives, and emerging issues in seed conservation and international exchange. Experts also discussed how advanced technologies can be integrated into routine practices to address these challenges effectively.
Roseleen Aind
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