National Strategic Germplasm and Cultivar Collection Assessment and Utilization Plan Released Nov 17

The National Strategic Germplasm and Cultivar Collection Assessment and Utilization Plan was publicly released on November 17, 2023.  This plan, directed by the 2018 Farm Bill, provides an overview of the challenges faced by the USDA National Plant Germplasm System and discusses the path forward in addressing critical needs. The sorghum germplasm collection curated in Griffin, GA is mentioned several times in the plan, most notably for the need of increased phenotypic and genotypic characterization.  For the ARS press release, please visit https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/news/research-news/2023/usda-introduces-a-multi-year-plan-to-strengthen-us-genebank-management-of-plant-germplasm/.   The plan itself is available for public access at https://www.ars.usda.gov/crop-production-and-protection/plant-genetic-resources-genomics-and-genetic-improvement/docs/npgs-plan/.