Thematic Project on ex situ conservation has been involved in the participation at the International Conference on Seed Industry held in Tripoli, Libya in March 2000. This task aimed at developing strategies and methods to organize and structure collections i.e. seed, pollen, field and in vitro, and to manage the conservation, regeneration, characterization and distribution of accessions, with the objective of ensuring secure, scientifically sound, practical, rational and economic maintenance, plus study the development of complementary conservation strategies. 

Research activities include studies on various aspects of field, seed and in vitro collection management practices and economics of genebank operations.  The scientific contribution provided at the Conference dealt with seed management in gene banks and in particular, on how gene banks can facilitate the use of germplasm through appropriate management. The paper was well received and has been submitted to the FAO-IPGRI Newsletter for publication.