Crop varieties to be preserved in national gene bank

Highlights

• Copies of genetic resources must be submitted to national gene bank
• Genetic resources refer to any whole plant or any part capable of reproduction
• Bangladesh Rice Research Institute first established a gene bank in 1974
• Later more gene banks were established in the country

In a significant move to safeguard the nation's genetic heritage, the government has finalised a new policy which mandates that all entities, be they individuals, groups, or institutions, currently engaged in the preservation of gene banks or genetic resources, must submit duplicate copies of their collections to a newly established centralised national gene bank.

With this end in view, the draft of the "National Gene Bank Management Policy 2024" is expected to be approved today at an Advisory Council meeting, to be presided over by the interim government's Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, according to officials.

A gene bank is a type of biorepository that is designed around the preservation of genetic information. Gene banks are often used for storing the genetic material of species that are endangered or close to extinction. They are also used for the preservation of major crop species and cultivars, in order to preserve crop diversity.

The government has already begun implementing the National Gene Bank Establishment Project, which is expected to be completed by June 2025.

How will the policy help?

Bangladesh is one of the world's most biodiverse countries and is traditionally rich in germplasm of various species, including crops, forestry, fruits, livestock, and fisheries.

The final draft policy, prepared for presentation at the Advisory Council meeting, defines germplasm as the genetic resources of plants, animals, and microorganisms or parts thereof, which include hereditary material and by-products. It also refers to any biological component within an ecosystem that has practical use or value.

The preservation of genetic resources is essential for sustainable long-term use, including their application in research and development activities. Genetic resources refer to any whole plant, organism, or parts thereof, or any part capable of reproduction—such as seeds, vegetative parts, tissues, cells, genes, and nucleic acids—that carry hereditary information and can be transferred from one generation to the next.

There are gene banks worldwide dedicated to preserving genetic resources. In Bangladesh, the institutional preservation of germplasm began in 1974 with the establishment of a gene bank by the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute.

Later, the Bangladesh Jute Research Institute and the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute also established gene banks, further enriching the conservation of plant genetic resources in the country. Currently, various government and private educational and research institutions in Bangladesh are involved in preserving the genetic resources of plants, animals, fish, microorganisms, and insects.

Individuals, groups, or organisations currently preserving gene banks or genetic resources in the country need to store these resources in a national central gene bank to ensure their preservation, coordinate activities, and mitigate the risk of loss or damage to the genetic resources. This is why the government is formulating the National Gene Bank Management Policy.

In 2011, the Constitution of Bangladesh incorporated the conservation and development of the environment and biodiversity as a fundamental principle of state policy. Additionally, Bangladesh is a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Therefore, the conservation of biodiversity and the use of genetic resources are crucial for national development.

In 2012, the final decision to establish the National Gene Bank was made at the second meeting of the National Taskforce on Biotechnology of Bangladesh. Following that, the Ministry of Science and Technology launched the Gene Bank project in 2018.

The project, with an estimated cost of Tk504 crore, was initially scheduled for completion by June 2021. However, the timeline has since been extended to June 2025.

The National Institute of Biotechnology is responsible for implementing the "Establishment of National Gene Bank" project.

As part of the project, construction is underway for a 38,814 square foot gene bank, along with an office building and staff quarters. This gene bank will have the capacity to store around 4 million samples.

According to information from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), there are 74 lakh accessions globally, of which about 20 lakh are unique and the rest are copies. These accessions are preserved through more than 1,750 gene bank facilities worldwide. Norway's renowned Svalbard Global Seed Vault serves as a backup for all gene banks around the world.

Among the major gene banks, the International Rice Research Institute's (IRRI) International Rice Gene Bank is the largest repository of paddy genetic diversity in the world. Countries, including Bangladesh, deposit their paddy varieties in this gene bank for preservation.

The Center for Genetic Resources (CGR) and Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands are renowned for preserving genetic resources of cattle, horses, sheep, goats, pigs, dogs, rabbits, and poultry. They conserve both rare breeds and common commercial varieties. Currently, the centre preserves embryos, oocytes, and DNA.