From 13 to 15 June 2026, the International Innovation Center for the Aral Sea Basin (IICAS) hosted a two-day training seminar dedicated to the establishment and effective management of a Seed Gene Bank incorporating field conservation practices.
The event brought together IICAS staff members, representatives of regional agricultural extension services, government agencies, and farming communities. The training was conducted by leading international experts in plant genetic resource conservation and sustainable agriculture, Professor Kristina Toderich and Professor Sayuri Teramoto.
The seminar focused on modern approaches to the conservation, regeneration, and sustainable utilization of plant genetic resources, including halophytes and underutilized crops that hold significant potential for the development of sustainable agriculture in the arid and saline conditions of the Aral Sea region.
The program combined theoretical sessions with practical training aimed at strengthening participants’ skills in seed selection and conservation, field conservation management, documentation and database management, as well as quality assurance and seed distribution systems. Particular attention was given to the long-term conservation of agrobiodiversity and enhancing the resilience of agricultural production systems to climate change.
On the second day, participants visited the Seed Gene Bank of the International Innovation Center for the Aral Sea Basin, where they gained first-hand experience with practical aspects of gene bank management and field conservation methods for plant genetic resources.
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