Meeting of the Presidium of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Ukraine

On November 19, 2025, a meeting of the Bureau of the NAAS Presidium was held to discuss the "Organization of Effective Use of Plant Genetic Resources." V. Riabchun, Deputy Director for for Research on Plant Genetic Resources, delivered a report presenting the results of long-term efforts within Ukraine’s plant genetic resources system aimed at forming and utilizing the National Plant Genebank. The established procedures for the collection, characterization, evaluation, and storage of accessions provide users with the necessary gene pool to solve scientific and breeding challenges and support educational processes. Annually, between 1,500 and 2,000 accessions are distributed for these purposes. Based on the genetic material from the National Genebank, 100–150 cultivars are developed and included in the State Register of Plant Varieties of Ukraine each year. These cultivars production for various sectors of human activities in Ukraine and support global food security.

The discussion of the report included contributions from B. Morhun, Deputy Director for Science the Institute of Cell Biology and Genetic Engineering of NAS, Corresponding Member of NAS of Ukraine; D. Rakhmetov, Deputy Director for Science at the M.M. Hryshko National Botanical Garden, Corresponding Member of the NAS of Ukraine; O. Makarchuk, Head of Department at the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine; Yu. Kharchenko, Director of Ustymivka Experimental Station of Plant Production of the Yuriev Plant Production Institute of NAAS. The speakers addressed issues of cooperation in enriching and preserving the National Plant Genebank, as well as joining the efforts of scientists from the NAS and NAAS to inventory and characterize gene pool accessions. A critical issue was raised regarding the mandatory transfer of new cultivars registered in Ukraine to the National Genebank.