Association and Location

The Genetic Resources and Biotechnology Institute is a center for research under the Department of Research and Specialist Services of the Ministry of Agriculture Mechanization and Irrigation Development which falls under the Research Services Division. The Institute also houses the National Genebank of Zimbabwe and is also part of the SADC Plant Genetic Resources Center Network of Genebanks

Our Vision

To be the leading research organization in maintaining crop genetic diversity and provision genetic resources and its information needed by plant breeders and farmers in order to enhance seed security and hence address food insecurity and eradication of extreme poverty and hunger in Zimbabwe and the globe at large.

Our Mission

To maintain and enhance the diversity of crop genetic resources which includes the threatened, underutilized, indigenous and naturalized crops that are important for food and agriculture through conducting and promoting research activities aimed at their conservation and sustainable utilization thereby achieving food security and eradicating extreme poverty and hunger

Our Mandate

To conduct research, conservation, dissemination of information on the threatened, underutilized, indigenous and naturalized crop genetic resources in Zimbabwe through crop ecogeographic surveys, germplasm collections, characterization and evaluation and on farm conservation activities. In addition the institute is the focal point for the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) and all policy issues that impinge on plant genetic resources.

Our Core Values

Teamwork, Professionalism, Creativity, Motivated Staff, Integrity, Accountability, Commitment, Transparency, Environmental Consciousness.

Our Products

All underutilized, indigenous and naturalized crop genetic resources which include pearl millet, finger millet, sorghum, cowpea, Bambara nut, cucumbers, lagnaria and wild crop relatives