N.I Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources and Toulouse-INP: a prestigious collaboration

The May 28, 2019

On May 3, 2019 an exceptional cooperation agreement was signed between Toulouse INP and the N.I Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR).

This agreement was promoted by Mr. Laurent Gentzbittel and Mrs. Cécile Ben, teachers-researchers at Toulouse INP-ENSAT, also EcoLab members. This agreement formalises a prestigious collaboration with the VIR and will strengthen bilateral students and teachers exchanges as well as setting up joint funding applications.

Cécile Ben and Laurent Gentzbittel with Dr. Alexander V. Pavlov, in front of the cryogenic storage tanks from the VIR's Lab of Long Storage Conservation.

The N.I Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources: an eminent institution.

The N.I Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources founded in the 1920's, is one of the most interesting genetic resource banks in the world. This institution owns plants and seed samples collected worldwide by agronomist and geneticist Nikolai Vavilov during his 115 expeditions in more than 60 countries between 1920 and 1935.

Preserved during the Second World War, members of the institution preferred to starve than consume the seeds they collected. This collection was then regularly enriched and includes today more than 300,000 samples of seeds or plants.

A partnership that meets current food issues

Moreover, this partnership is all the more relevant and strategic as it is part of a global response to current climate and food issues. It focuses in the gentic erosion of cultivated varieties, consequence of the industrial production. In the perspective of ecological transition and agricultural practices diversification, collaborative projects aim to identify plants that are resistant to drought, disease and able to produce quality produtcs, with less pesticides and fertilizers while being adapted to local environments.