The ICAR–Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (ICAR–CPCRI), in collaboration with the International Coconut Community (ICC), Jakarta, hosted an International Workshop on strengthening coconut genebanks for a climate-resilient and sustainable future. .

The workshop was attended by 25 international delegates from 14 countries, including Dr. Jelfina C. Alouw, Director General of ICC, and H.E. Ambassador DiarNurbintoro, Director of the Non-Aligned Movement Centre for South-South Technical Cooperation (NAM-CSSTC), Jakarta, Indonesia, along with several leading researchers and representatives from the Crop Trust and FAO. National participants, numbered around 42, and included researchers from ICAR institutes, State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), entrepreneurs, and officials from developmental agencies engaged in coconut R&D, Coconut Development Board and State Department of Horticulture. In addition, many of the ICC-COGENT ITAG (International Thematic Action Group) membersjoined on-line and participated in the technical sessions. The inaugural function, held on 2 September 2025 to coincide with World Coconut Day, was graced by Dr. S. K. Singh (DDG–Horticultural Sciences, ICAR) and inaugurated by Shri. RajmohanUnnithan, Hon’ble MP, Kasaragod. The workshop was co-ordinated by Dr. K. B. Hebbar, Director, ICAR–CPCRI andDr. Niral V., Head, Division of Crop Improvement, ICAR-CPCRI, while Dr. SV Ramesh,Senior Scientist, ICAR–CPCRI Kasaragod and Dr.Diwakar YSenior Scientist, ICAR–CPCRI Research Centre, Kidu served as convenors.

The four-day program, had national as well as international experts as resource speakers and panelist and featuredcountry reportson current status of germplasm collection and utilization ingenebanks, technical sessions, panel discussions, and field visits, focusing on:

Harnessing genetic diversity for breeding programs.

Best practices in long-term conservation and plant health management.

Strategic alliances and policy harmonization for global frameworks.

Leveraging AI, genomics, and digital systems for smart genebanks.

Young researchers’ flash talks and interactive working groups.

Field visits to the International Coconut Genebank – South Asia & Middle East (ICG-SAME), at ICAR-CPCRI, Research Centre, Kidu, Karnataka.

The main recommendations from the workshop includethe following.

Strengthen international collaboration in germplasm exchangemaking identified germplasm available under SMTA, with ICGs and NCGs as signatories to Article 15.

Develop harmonized guidelines for safe and efficient exchange of genetic resources and share them with regulatory authorities in ICC-COGENT member countries.

Promote best practices in conservation byidentifying gaps for targeted collections, ensuring proper regeneration of accessions, maintaining pedigree records, securing sufficient population size per accession, and ensuring safe duplication in at least two genebanks.

Make effective use of cutting-edge technologies, such as multi-omics, AI, and digital systems to collect data on germplasm resources.

Develop standardised methodologies for germplasm assessment in relation to climate resilience, pest and disease resistance, industrial processing suitability, and carbon-sequestration potential.

Identify and characterize genes governing specialty traits and also identify robust trait-associated markers to support targeted breeding program

Recent advances made in ovary or inflorescence culture may be shared among member countries and research intensified to upscale commercial production of true to type elite planting material.