Seeds for the future: Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of ILRI’s Forage Genebank
Meeting will start at 9:00am East Africa Time. Register here.
Welcome to the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the ILRI Forage Genebank, a cornerstone of global agricultural innovation and biodiversity preservation. Established in 1983 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, our genebank plays an important role in sustaining food and agriculture systems worldwide. With over 18,000 accessions of nearly 2,000 forage species, including grasses, legumes, trees and shrubs, we are dedicated to the conservation, distribution, and research of forage germplasm (genetic material).
This page celebrates our milestones, showcases our enhancements in livestock productivity and support for small-scale farming, and emphasizes our dedication to fostering a climate-resilient future. We are also excited to highlight ongoing research aimed at reducing enteric methane emissions through innovative forage solutions.
Join us in exploring the legacy and ongoing contributions of the ILRI Forage Genebank.
ILRI forage factsheets
The ILRI Forage Genebank was set up by John Lazier to hold a collection of forage genetic resources to help select promising forages that could enhance small-scale livestock production.
- Accessions were acquired from the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Central Farm Belize, University of Florida and the International Livestock Centre for Africa (ILCA, now ILRI) Mali station.
- Field seed multiplication sites were established at Abernosa Ranch, Zwai and Wolaita Soddo in Ethiopia.
- Collection of forage legumes began in Ethiopia
