Crop gene bank

The Latvian Crop Gene Bank is one of the newest in Europe.

The work on the conservation and research of crop genetic resources began in 1993. Initially, an inventory of crop material from the largest working collections was carried out, and a computerized joint database was established. In 1998, the Latvian Crop Gene Bank (LGB) was founded at the Institute of Biology of the University of Latvia, with the goal of preserving generatively propagated local crop samples. The first samples for long-term storage were placed in freezers in 1999.

Since 2006, the LGB has been located at the Latvian State Forest Research Institute “Silava” and operates in close cooperation with genetic resource holders.

LGB seed samples are stored according to internationally accepted standards. Both base and active collection samples are kept at a temperature of -20°C in aluminum foil bags. Before being placed in the freezer, the seeds are dried until the moisture content in the seeds does not exceed 7%.