I n d i a i s r i c h i n plant genetic resources. I t i s the p r ima r y center of or igi n f o r pigeonpea and a secondar y or ter t iar y center of diversi t y f o r al l other I C R I S A T mandat e crops. The Genet i c Resources Un i t ( G R U ) of I C R I S A T and the Na t i o n a l Bureau of Plant Genet i c Resources ( N B PGR ) of I C A R are col laborat ing successfully i n col lect ion in p r i o r i t y areas a n d i n mu l t i l o c a t i o n a l evaluat ion of germplasm. These concer ted ef for ts  ensure the conservat ion of the invaluabl e diversi t y of o u r germplasm f o r present and futur e ut i l i zat ion i n c r o p improvement . So far , 11 expedi t ions have been launched wh i c h helped us acqui r e 2202 samples of I C R I S A T crops. Several thousand accessions were also evaluated j o i n t l y . Th e col lect ion p r o g r a m has helped increase the n umb e r and diversi t y of germplasm i n the wo r l d col lect ions maintained at I C R I S A T . By br inging together scientists wh o have act ivel y par t icipated i n germplasm col lect i o n , evaluat ion, a n d u t i l i z a t i o n , this wo r k s h o p aims to

• review the progress made so far ,
• p r omo t e fur ther c o l l a b o r a t i o n , -
• determine the use and impac t of germplasm in nat ional c rop improvement programs , and
• study and recommend futur e act ivi t ies.