The Global Genome Initiative for Gardens
(GGI-Gardens)

Natural history collections play an increasingly vital role in biodiversity studies. Much of the research that leverages these collections combines this accumulated diversity knowledge with genomic approaches. There is a movement toward improved collection practices that incorporate resources that can be used in genomics research. As a result, partnerships such as the Global Genome Biodiversity Network (GGBN) and Global Genome Initiative (GGI) are emerging to unite these innovative biocollections.

Program/Area Summary

GGI Gardens is an international partnership of botanical gardens and arboreta focused on collecting herbarium vouchers from living collections and preserving their genome resources in GGBN-partnered biorepositories. GGI Gardens is generating a vast, accessible, and well-managed collection of genome resources. If you or your institution is interested in joining GGI Gardens, please don’t hesitate to email GGI-Gardens Director, Dr. Morgan Gostel at mgostel@brit.org.

GGI-Gardens Partners

As of September 2022, the Global Genome Initiative for Gardens (GGI-Gardens) is composed of 40 partners across six continents, up from 25 partners across four continents in May 2020.