GRIN-Global: An International Project to Develop a Global Plant Genebank Information Management System

Authors: Postman, Joseph; Bretting, Peter; Kinard, Gary; Cyr, Pete; WEAVER, BROCK - Bioversity International; Millard, Mark; Gardner, Candice; Bohning, Mark; Emberland, Gorm; Sinnott, Quinn; Ayala Silva, Tomas; Hummer, Kim; FRANCO, TITO - Bioversity International; MACKAY, MICHAEL - Bioversity International; GUARINO, LUIGI - Global Crop Diversity Trust

Submitted to: Acta Horticulturae
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/24/2009
Publication Date: 4/20/2010
Citation: Postman, J.D., Bretting, P.K., Kinard, G.R., Cyr, P.D., Weaver, B., Millard, M.J., Gardner, C.A., Bohning, M.A., Emberland, G.P., Sinnott, Q.P., Ayala Silva, T., Hummer, K.E., Franco, T., Mackay, M., Guarino, L. 2010. GRIN-Global: An International Project to Develop a Global Plant Genebank Information Management System. Acta Horticulturae. 859:49-55.

Interpretive Summary: The mission of the GRIN-Global project is to create a new scalable, version of the USDA/ARS National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS), Germplasm Resource Information (GRIN) database platform which will be suitable for use by any genebank in the world. It is being developed in a joint effort with the Global Crop Diversity Trust, Bioversity International, and the Agricultural Research Service of the USDA. The new GRIN-Global database platform is scheduled to be completed during the last quarter of 2010. This project's goal is to provide the world's crop genebanks with a powerful, flexible, easy-to-use global plant genetic resource information management system that will constitute the keystone for an efficient and effective global network of genebanks to permanently safeguard plant genetic resources vital to global food security, and to encourage the use of these resources by researchers, breeders, and farmer-producers. By improving the capability of genebanks to provide data to a global accession-level information system under the leadership of Bioversity International, it will be possible to more accurately assess the 'State of the World' for plant genetic resources, and to identify priority global needs for plant genetic resource conservation.

Technical Abstract: The mission of the GRIN-Global Project is to create a new, scalable version of the Germplasm Resource Information System (GRIN) to provide the world’s crop genebanks with a powerful, flexible, easy-to-use plant genetic resource (PGR) information management system. The system will help safeguard PGR and information vital to global food security, and encourage PGR use. Developed jointly by the USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bioversity International and the Global Crop Diversity Trust, GRIN-Global will be deployed in selected plant genebanks worldwide in 2010. The .NET Framework and Visual Studio development environment were chosen for the project. A core set of web services, enterprise services or other technologies will update data stored locally or on networks, distribute centralized data to off-site systems, and enable third party data sharing. The database and interface(s) will accommodate commercial and open-source programming tools, be database-flexible (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MS SQL Server, Oracle) and require no licensing fees. The database will be deployable on stand-alone computers or networked systems. Iterative programming strategies will support continuous product evaluation and refinement; advanced prototypes will be extensively beta-tested. GRIN-Global supports uploading and downloading passport, phenotype and molecular marker data in a spreadsheet format. Bioversity International will deploy GRIN-Global internationally, working cooperatively to document the new system in Arabic, English, French, Russian and Spanish, translate its interface, and implement it in developing countries. Implementation will be monitored and barriers to adoption identified. Users will evaluate GRIN-Global’s impact and suggest improvements following implementation.