Latin America: A Model for the Global Plant Cryopreservation Initiative.

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Botany
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• Latin America is a megadiverse region, crucial for global food security due to its role in domesticating essential crops like maize, potato, and beans.
• This region faces significant habitat loss, threatening unique crop cultivars and wild relatives vital for climate change adaptation.
• Vegetatively propagated crops, with their unique genetic makeup, cannot be conserved as seeds and are at high risk of extinction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the challenge of conserving vegetatively propagated crops in Latin America.
• To establish a secure, long-term method for preserving plant genetic resources.
• To build capacity and foster a community of practice for plant cryopreservation in the region.

Main Methods:

• The Global Plant Cryopreservation Initiative (GPCI) established a Latin America hub at the International Potato Center (CIP) in Peru.
• Initiated with a 2022 workshop, momentum was maintained through annual virtual meetings and in-person capacity training.
• National programs were implemented in Ecuador and Chile, including backing up accessions in CIP's cryo-vault.

Main Results:

• A regional plant cryopreservation network has been established and is actively maintained.
• Capacity building for researchers in plant genetic resources conservation, with a focus on cryopreservation, has been successfully delivered.
• National cryopreservation programs are operational in Ecuador and Chile, with genetic resources secured.

Conclusions:

• The GPCI Latin America hub at CIP serves as a model for mobilizing national programs in genetic resource conservation.
• Ongoing activities are building a strong and lasting community of practice for plant cryopreservation in Latin America.
• These efforts are crucial for safeguarding invaluable plant genetic diversity against extinction.