Annual Report 2022/2023 KALRO GeRRI Muguga

Abstract

The Genetic Resources Research Institute (GeRRI) (formally known as the National Genebank of Kenya), is one of the sixteen semi-autonomous institutes of the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO). The National Genebank of Kenya (or simply genebank) was established in 1983 and became operational in 1988. Its mandate was to conserve germplasm of crop plants and their wild/weedy relatives so as to prevent genetic erosion. With establishment of GeRRI under KALR Act of 2013, the mandate was expanded to cover the conservation of not only plants but also animals, microbes, insects and arthropods. In delivering this expanded mandate, GeRRI has to date amassed slightly over 51,000 (fifty-one thousand) accessions (ecotypes) comprising over two thousand plant species, majority of which are crop plants. This rich collection include materials collected from other countries globally. Currently, GeRRI’s strength is in conservation of plant genetic resources. The institute’s vision is to improve its physical infrastructure and human resource capacity to handle the conservation of animals, microbes, insects and arthropods biodiversity in future. The conservation of plant genetic resources at GeRRI entails various activities namely germplasm collection, characterization, evaluation, regeneration, multiplication, distribution of germplasm to various users and documentation of all the data generated during these processes. The institute also maintains ex-situ field genebanks at various KALRO Centres for the conservation of non-orthodox seeded and clonally propagated plants. Vision: Excellence in genetic resources conservation and use for transformed livelihoods Mission: To conserve and promote sustainable use of genetic resources in technology generation that catalyse sustainable growth and development in agriculture and livestock Product Value Chains