1. Where did our food crops originate?

2. Why Biodiversity matters:
Germplasm: all the genetic diversity contained in a species of plant, especially crops plants and those we use for human and animal food, and fiber
Maize
Wheat
Chick Peas
Citrus

3. Traits commonly being bred for in many crops, all over the world
Increased yield
Drought resistance
Resistance to pests
Insects, disease organisms, nematodes
Aluminum toxicity (wheat in OK)
Decreasing time to maturity
Increased nutrient value
Milling and baking quality (wheat)
Ease of harvest
Shorter stalks (less straw and more grain)
Taste
Ability to ship fruits with out bruising
Uniformity of ripening
Ability of fruits to be stored

4. Germplasm preservation insures we will have food crops in the future.
Without germplasm, humans cannot modify food crops to meet new environmental challenges.
Plant improvement (plant breeding) is a continuing process. Plant breeders improve food crops by artificial selection. This is known as traditional breeding, and has been happening from the beginnings of agriculture some 10-12k years ago.

5. Seed bank: A facility that stores seeds to preserve germplasm.

6. Germplasm Centers, World and USA
USDA-ARS

7. GRIN: Germplasm Resource Information Network
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation
USDA-Agricultural Research Service
Fort Collins, CO