Summary of the GGCE Advisory Group Meeting - June 2026

The GGCE Advisory Group met on 23 June 2026 to review the current state of the platform and coordinate future strategic directions. The meeting highlighted the continued growth of GGCE and the need for aligned technical priorities between different user groups.

Adoption and reach

GGCE is experiencing significant growth in global adoption. The platform is now utilized across Africa, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and Australia. Notable success stories include the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) in the UAE and the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) in Morocco.

Capacity building

To support new users, the Crop Trust has launched several capacity building initiatives. These include a certified course through the FAO Academy and the "Securing Our Seeds" project, which focuses on digitization efforts in Latin America and West Africa.

Strategic coordination

A key focus of the meeting was the coordination between the Crop Trust and CGIAR. Technical coordination meetings have resumed to ensure that the platform meets the diverse needs of its users.

While many National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) are transitioning from manual or Excel based systems, CGIAR centers require more advanced features, such as mobile integration and Quality Management System (QMS) compliance. The group emphasized the importance of co-investment to develop these advanced capabilities, which will ultimately benefit all GGCE users.

Governance and future direction

The group discussed the importance of sustainability and long-term funding. Future efforts will focus on improving sustainability messaging and showcasing the impact of GGCE through user testimonials and a comprehensive list of participating genebanks.

For more detailed information, you can read the Full meeting notes.