This chapter provides an overview of the importance of plant genetic resource conservation, the role of genebanks, and the maintenance of genebank facilities.

This chapter presents an overview of the genebank operation, including seed and plant material storage, shipping these resources, and genebank services. The simple economics of genebanking, aspects of costing genebank operations, and existing studies on ex situ conservation are discussed.

This chapter discusses the history of the CIMMYT's gene bank, including its maize and wheat collection; cost of maintenance and operation; and economic analysis of these genebank.

This chapter discusses the history of ICARDA gene bank, its costing for different functions, and economic analysis of maintenance and operation.

This chapter discusses the operational costs and issues of genebank management. The economic implications of a number of important policy and management options are presented, drawing on the cost data discussed previously.

This chapter discusses the history of ICRISAT gene bank, its costing for different functions, and economic analysis of maintenance and operation.

This chapter discusses the history of IRRI gene bank, its costing for different functions, and economic analysis of maintenance and operation.

This chapter discusses the history of CIAT gene bank, its costing for different functions, and economic analysis of maintenance and operation.