Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #246021
Title: A global portal enabling worldwide access to information on conservation and use of biodiversity for food and agriculture

Author
item ARNAUD, ELIZABETH - Bioversity International
item DIAS, SONIA - Bioversity International
item MACKAY, MICHAEL - Bioversity International
item Cyr, Pete
item Gardner, Candice
item Bretting, Peter
item Kinard, Gary
item GUARINO, LUIGI - Global Crop Diversity Trust

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/31/2009
Publication Date: 8/1/2010
Citation: Arnaud, E., Dias, S., Mackay, M., Cyr, P.D., Gardner, C.A., Bretting, P.K., Kinard, G.R., Guarino, L. 2010. A global portal enabling worldwide access to information on conservation and use of biodiversity for food and agriculture. In: Maurer, L., Tochtermann, K. Information and Communication Technologies for Biodiversity Conservation and Agriculture. Aachen, Germany: Shaker Verlag. p. 173-186.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The genetic diversity of crop species is vital to ensuring more consistent, abundant and nutritious harvests, especially in developing countries. The agricultural community needs ready access to information that enables the most efficient and economical choice of appropriate diversity to address these challenges. Considerable amounts of diversity are stored in genebanks. However, information about this agricultural biodiversity is fragmented and scattered, and is particularly difficult to access in the resource-poor countries where it is most needed. It is often hard to find information about germplasm that can provide, for example, resistance to pests and diseases, or other stresses that reduce productivity and yields. The global germplasm information portal currently under development will specifically address information-retrieval obstacles faced by breeders, crop researchers and other users. The global information portal will use data standards and integrate data sets from existing information systems, or through a new scalable genebank information management system called GRIN-Global, for online publication within a global accession-level information platform. This global portal will be developed as a one-stop entry point to worldwide genebank information, enabling users to select and order samples online.