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CGIAR Cryo-workshop
The long-term conservation of plant genetic resources is of utmost priority to ensure food security and the sustainability of agricultural systems for current and future generations. This need has become even more pressing under the conditions of rapid climate change, which threatens to reduce biodiversity in its natural environments, not to mention other human-driven threats like deforestation, pollution, urban growth, and wars.
To promote plant cryopreservation in more Latin American countries and lay the groundwork for the creation of a network of cryobanks, CIP is organizing and promoting this cryopreservation workshop.
During the workshop, the status of collections of clonal and recalcitrant species in Latin America will be discussed, and experiences and knowledge on the conservation of plant genetic resources through the use of cryopreservation will be shared.
Together, we aim to identify each country’s priorities and strategies in implementing or expanding their cryobanks.
Hugo Campos
International Potato Center
Vania Azevedo
International Potato Center
Bartholomeus Panis
Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
Rainer Vollmer
International Potato Center
Esther Uchendu
International Insitute of Tropical Agriculture
Norma Manrique
Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
Alice Muchugi
CIFOR-ICRAF
David Ellis
CIP Emeritus
Ovais Peerzada
ICRISAT
Fiona Hay
Aarhus University
Welcome Remarks
Dr. Hugo Campos
The CIP Genebank – An Overview
Dr. Vania Azevedo
Genebank tour
Dr. Vania Azevedo
Introduction to Plant Cryopreservation
Dr. Bart Panis
CIP’s cryopreservation program
MSc. Rainer Vollmer
IITA’s cryopreservation program
Dr. Esther Uchendu
Bioversity’s cryopreservation program
Dr. Bart Panis
CIAT’s cryopreservation program
Dr. Norma Manrique
Group discussion – Challenges of each cryo-program
Break out groups (2) – Common Principles and Standards
- Selection and prioritization criteria for cryopreservation
- Minimum acceptable recovery rate and assessment criteria
- Viability testing over time
- Emergency / contingency plan for cryo-disasters
- QMS for cryopreservation
Hands-on presentation / Discussion (3 rotating groups)
- Preparation of materials
- Pre-cryo steps (in vitro)
- Shoot tip excision
Hands-on presentation / Discussion (3 rotating groups)
- Cryoprotection treatments (LS/PVS2)
- Cooling in LN
- Transitory storage of samples
The CIFOR-ICRAF genebank – An Overview
Dr. Alice Muchugi
Break out groups (2) – Common Principles and Standards
- Control of contamination and process failures
- LN supply chain
- Safety backups
- Health & Safety in cryopreservation
A vision of the future of the CGIAR cryobanks
Dr. David Ellis
Hands-on presentation / Discussion (3 rotating groups)
- Rewarming of samples
- Recovery Cycle
- Assessment of recovery / Decision making
Hands-on presentation / Discussion (3 rotating groups)
- Preparation of solutions / culture media
- Final transfer of samples to cryobank
- Organization of cryobank / processing of safety copy
The ICRISAT genebank – An Overview
Dr. Ovais Peerzada
Hands-on presentation of slow cooling method
Dr. Bart Panis
Hands-on presentation of V-plate method
Dr. Esther Uchendu
Hands-on presentation of encapsulation method
Dr. Norma Manrique
Break out groups (2) – How will we reach the 60% target – Levelling and scaling up
- Process optimization
- Staff and capital requirements
- Funding
- Collaboration between centers
- Outsourcing of activities
Break out groups (2) – Future priorities for research on cryopreservation
- Difficult clonal crops (Annex 1 crops)
- New crops
- Recalcitrant, intermediate and orthodox seeds
- Pollen
- Cryotherapy
Break out groups (2) – Data information systems for cryobanks
- Database type / structure
- Key steps to record and track
- Automation of reports and KPIs
- QR codes, RFID tags, microfilms
Status quo and future of the conservation of seed crops
Dr. Fiona Hay
Output / objective setting for cryobanking (period 2025-30)
- Group discussion based on the results from an internal survey of the CGIAR cryopreservation working group
Capacity building and collaboration
Group discussion on:
- Training demand on cryopreservation
- Ring tests of protocols
- Collaborative research between CGIAR Centers
- Establishment of cross-cutting objectives/results
- Participation of external experts (universities, research institutes, etc.)
Organization of clonal CoP
Group discussion on:
- Rotating leadership
- Responsibilities / Functions
- Reporting
- Funding
Closing and Farewell