Genebank

As one of the largest collections globally, ICBA’s Genebank preserves drought-, heat-, and salt-tolerant plant species, safeguarding biodiversity for future agricultural sustainability.

What makes the Genebank one-of-its-kind:

• Over 17,000 accessions of around 325 plant species from more than 150 countries and territories
• Approximately 310 seed samples of 100 wild and cultivated plant species from the UAE
• About 5,000 accessions of barley, one of the largest collections in the Middle East
• More than 1,200 accessions of quinoa, the largest collection of its kind outside South America

ICBA conducts regular expeditions to collect important indigenous species and deposit them in the Genebank for future preservation and study. These efforts have led to significant discoveries, including:

• Identification of four local cereal genotypes in Ras al-Khaimah
• Preservation of Halfa grass from possible extinction
• Documentation of 31 plant species previously unknown to exist in the UAE

ICBA also distributes seed samples to institutions worldwide for research, breeding, and introduction. To date, our center has provided nearly 9,000 seed samples to scientists, farmers, and other stakeholders in 64 countries.

By maintaining this vast collection of plant genetic resources, ICBA continues to harness science for sustainability, ensuring that valuable traits are preserved for future generations and can be utilized in developing climate-resilient and productive crops for saline and arid environments.

• ICBA Genebank Accessions
• Guidelines for Seed Request to ICBA Genebank