Plant Genetic Resources: Their Conservation and Utilization Through Various Strategies Involving Modern Genomic Tools and Traditional and Cultural Methodologies

Plant genetic resources (PGRs) including landraces, wild relatives, obsolete varieties, and modern cultivars are of significant value for food and agriculture. Their conservation is non-negotiable for effectively tackling critical challenges like pests, diseases, and climate change, which are essential for achieving and sustaining global food security. Successful PGR conservation demands a robust strategy that integrates in situ (natural habitats) and ex situ (seed banks, gene banks, cryopreservation, botanical gardens) methods. Community engagement is vital to fully leverage indigenous knowledge and implement participatory breeding programmes that support conservation of locally adapted crops. To optimize the utility of PGR, national and international policies should be refined to foster access and benefit sharing while incentivizing conservation efforts. The adoption of modern technologies, including digital databases and genomic tools, is absolutely needed to improve the monitoring and maximize the use of genetic resources. Conclusively, integrating traditional knowledge with modern tools is key to preserving valuable PGR, sustaining genetic diversity, mitigating biodiversity losses, bolstering food systems, and ensuring long-term global food security and ecological balance.