The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, with financial support from the European Union and in partnership with several international genetic resource institutions, has officially opened the Duplicate Centre for Plant Genetic Resources of Ukraine. The new facility has been handed over to the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences and represents the second phase of an EU–FAO project launched after the destruction of the National Gene Bank in Kharkiv.
Following the emergency evacuation of 51,000 samples to western Ukraine in 2022, the new Duplicate Centre now provides a permanent, modern, and secure home for these collections. The modular complex includes laboratories, drying and cold-storage rooms, freezing facilities, and workspaces that enable full-scale scientific research and long-term preservation of Ukraine’s seed diversity.
EU representatives highlighted that the Centre strengthens the protection of Ukraine’s agricultural heritage and contributes to global food security by safeguarding unique crop diversity. The project has also supported the adoption of a national strategy for developing Ukraine’s plant genetic resources system and the implementation of the GRIN-Global information platform, enhancing data exchange and international collaboration.
FAO emphasized that the Centre ensures the long-term preservation of plant genetic resources that are irreplaceable and often unavailable in any other global collection. The facility will be equipped with modern laboratory instruments and designed with energy-efficient features, including a planned 100 kW solar power plant installation. Together with other national research institutions, the Centre forms a consolidated network safeguarding over 154,000 samples from more than 2,000 plant species.
Ukrainian scientific leaders noted that the Centre will serve as a hub for research, training, and international cooperation in plant breeding and biodiversity conservation. Many preserved crops, such as wheat, barley, peas, chickpeas, forages, and sunflower, are globally important for food security and agricultural resilience. Ukraine also plans to back up parts of its collection in international repositories, including the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, strengthening long-term security.
Overall, the establishment of the Duplicate Centre demonstrates how international support can protect critical agricultural diversity even during conflict. Each conserved seed strengthens Ukraine’s ability to rebuild its agricultural sector, contribute to global crop research, and enhance resilience in the face of climate and food security challenges.
