With close to a million accessions, the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation (NLGRP) in Fort Collins, Colorado, conserves the world’s largest collection of plant and microbial genetic resources. Included is a growing collection of more than 23,000 native seed accessions collected for preservation and for use in ecosystem restoration.

NLGRP plant research delivers improved technologies for preserving biological diversity and assessing and maintaining the quality of plant reproductive material. NLGRP staff will provide participants in this tour with an overview of the Laboratory’s overall mission to conserve materials and provide samples for research and development. Small groups will then rotate through the laboratory to meet staff who will describe procedures for the evaluation and maintenance of collections, tour the storage facilities and learn about storage techniques, and discuss ongoing research studies.

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