THE Global Crop Diversity Trust (GCDT) has committed to set aside $8 million to help conserve and distribute germplasm or seeds in the gene bank of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat).

In a statement, Icrisat said it entered into an agreement with GCDT to ensure the long-term availability of funds for the conservation, characterization and distribution of seeds in Icrisat’s gene bank.

Icrisat’s director general Dr. William Dar and GCDT executive director Prof. Cary Fowler signed the agreement during the recent annual general meeting of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research in Beijing, China.

Under the agreement, GCDT will commit $8 million, while Icrisat will set aside $2 million, bringing the endowment to a total of $10 million. The proceeds of the endowment will be used for genetic- resources conservation and management activities at Icrisat.

The endowment’s support for the sorghum germplash collection will begin in 2007, pearl millet in 2008 and chickpea in 2009, to be followed by other Icrisat mandate crops.

The goal is to raise at least $450,000 per year as return from the endowment to meet critical operational needs, such as regeneration, characterization, conservation and viability testing for the crop collections held in trust at Icrisat.

Dar said the partnership will ensure steady financial support to Icrisat’s gene bank.

Currently, Icrisat holds more than 118,000 accessions of germplasm for pearl millet, sorghum, chickpea, groundnut, pigeonpea and six small millets in its gene bank.

“This global treasure holds the genetic  material to overcome some of the future breeding bottlenecks and can help breeders develop varieties that can overcome drought, pest and disease infestations,” said Dar.

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THE Global Crop Diversity Trust (GCDT) has committed to set aside $8 million to help conserve and distribute germplasm or seeds in the gene bank of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat).