INCREASE – Intelligent Collections of Food Legumes Genetic Resources for European Agrofood Systems

International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas

ICARDA is one of the 15 CGIAR centers undertaking research-for-development on Dryland Agriculture combining Component research (crops, livestock, soil, water) and Systems Research. ICARDA provides innovative science-based solutions to improve the resilience and livelihoods of the resource-poor in dry areas. In partnership with research institutions, NGOs, governments, and the private sector, our work advances scientific knowledge, shapes practices, and informs policy. Since its establishment in 1977, ICARDA has implemented research-for-development programs in 50 countries across the world’s dry areas - from North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Central Asia and the Caucuses to South Asia and China. ICARDA partners with NARES, providing them access to basic knowledge, global germplasm, improved crop lines through international nurseries, and capacity development of stakeholders. ICARDA genebank holds ~143,000 germplasm accessions of barley, faba bean, durum wheat, bread wheat, kabuli chickpea, grass pea and lentils, including landraces, local varieties and unique germplasm and crop wild relatives. These accessions are geo-referenced, characterised for disease and pest resistance, nutritional qualities through in-depth evaluations and referenced in an online database. Molecular characterisation using next generations sequencing technology will ensure efficient and effective management of the agrobiodiversity.

Role within INCREASE

ICARDA participates in conserving, managing and characterising lentil and chickpea germplasm and contributes in the constitution of an ‘Intelligent Collection’ and purification. ICARDA's major role is in phenotyping the germplasm in fields for the defined traits with primary focus on disease reaction, seed quality traits, and root traits and tolerance to abiotic stresses. Besides, the centre preserves the Reference-CORE set for long term conservation and use. The consequence of this will be the availability and access to well-described and well-managed genetic-resource collections of food legume species that capture the full diversity range. This is paramount to advance legume crops.

Main contacts

Photo of Dr Shiv Kumar Agrawal
Dr Shiv Kumar Agrawal
Lentil Breeder
Photo of Dr Aladdin Hamwieh
Dr Aladdin Hamwieh
Chickpea Breeder
Photo of Dr Seid Ahmed
Dr Seid Ahmed
Legume Pathologist
Photo of Dr Athanasios Tsivelikas
Dr Athanasios Tsivelikas
Genebank Manager