The NARO Genebank Project, Japan

The Genebank Project of Japan’s National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), which started in 1985, builds on various previous initiatives. Its activities are directed toward conservation, exploration, collection, characterization, evaluation, distribution and documentation of PGRFA, including farmers’ varieties/landraces. The project develops and applies advanced technology to improve genebank operations, e.g. low/ultra-low temperature preservation and reproduction techniques. The Genetic Resources Center continuously develops new cryopreservation techniques for vegetatively propagated plant genetic resources, for which more systematic procedures are needed and/or to which the current techniques are difficult to apply. Such techniques can be shared with researchers of other countries through collaborative research and training. Genetic resources are distributed, together with relevant information, to users for breeding, scientific studies and educational purposes.