Genebanks at Risk: Hazard Assessment and Risk Management of National and International Genebanks

Abstract

Genebanks are crucial for safeguarding global crop diversity but are themselves exposed to several risks. However, a scientific basis for identifying, assessing, and managing risks is still lacking. Addressing these research gaps, this study provides risk analysis for three key risk groups: natural hazards, political risks, and financial risks, carried out on a sample of 80 important national and international genebanks, comprising at least 4.78 million accessions or roughly 65% of the reported total of ex situ conserved accessions worldwide. The assessment tool of Munich Re “Natural Hazards Edition” allowed a location-specific comparison of the natural hazard exposure. Results showed that genebanks in the Asia-Pacific region are most exposed to natural hazards, while institutions in African and some Asian countries are rather vulnerable to political risks. Financing is a major problem for national genebanks in developing countries, whereas the Global Crop Diversity Trust achieved considerable financial security for international genebanks. Large differences in the risk exposure of genebanks exist, making a location- and institution-specific risk assessment indispensable. Moreover, there is significant room for improvement with respect to quality and risk management at genebanks. Transferring risks of genebanks to third parties is underdeveloped and should be used more widely.

How Can We Strengthen the Global Genetic Resources’ Conservation and Use System?

“…With the encouragement of the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture to establish genebanks for the storage of collected genetic resources and with technical guidance and assistance from the IBPGR, almost 2000 genebanks have been established worldwide since the middle of the last century. Because plant genetic resources, genebanks, and the genetic resources they contain can be threatened, Herbold and Engels [ 14 ] analysed the different types of risks that undermine the safety and security of the genebanks and their collections and suggested remedies for how such risks can be reduced. Another critical aspect of the efficiency and effectiveness of genebanks is the assessment of their quality performance.…”

“…Apart from the threat to genetic resources in nature and/or farmers’ fields as well as in genebanks, genebanks themselves are exposed to a series of risks that may originate from natural hazards, such as earthquakes and storms, but also from political or financial issues. Herbold and Engels [ 14 ] undertook risk analyses of 80 important national and international genebanks regarding natural hazards and political and financial risks, and they concluded that there are large differences in the risk exposure of genebanks, making a location- and institution-specific risk assessment indispensable. Such risk assessments would help create more awareness at the local or national (political) level, hopefully resulting in the implementation of measures that mitigate the impact of risks, both for the genebank structures as well as for the safety of the collections.…”

Enhancing Maize Germplasm Selection for Genebanks: A Decision Support System Combining Shannon-Weaver Diversity Index and Machine Learning

“…First, genebanks' storage space, budgets, and staff expertise are frequently limited. Continuously increasing the germplasm collection by incorporating the new accession may strain these resources and risk the overall effectiveness of genebank activities [6]. Second, an overabundance of the collection may degrade its representativeness.…”