Thirteen countries join forces to conserve and make the most of their agrobiodiversity

• Genomics and regional collaboration strengthen national genebanks in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Mosquera, Cundinamarca. February 9, 2026. Researchers from the Tibaitatá and La Selva Research Centers of the Plant Germplasm Bank, working in coordination with regional partners and CGIAR genebanks—including the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), and the International Potato Center (CIP)—published a new study showing how genomics and collaborative work are transforming crop diversity’s management and use in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The scientific article “Strengthening national genebanks through genomics and regional collaboration: Lessons from Latin America and the Caribbean,” published in the journal Global Food Security, documents the experience of a regional Community of Practice that brings together national genebanks. The study demonstrates how the exchange of genomic data, the strengthening of technical capacities, and coordinated approaches among countries contribute to improving the conservation of plant genetic resources, facilitating access to them, and enhancing their use in crop breeding programs aimed at climate change adaptation and food security. The findings provide practical lessons for strengthening genebank systems and bridging the gap between conservation and use.

The Community of Practice has successfully brought together 17 institutions from 13 countries in the region, with an initial focus on crops of high economic, social, and food importance, such as common bean, maize, and potato. The experience shows how regional collaboration can help overcome technical, institutional, and regulatory barriers that often limit the adoption of genomic tools in national genebanks, thus strengthening the resilience of agri-food systems in Latin America and the Caribbean.

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