CryoConnect

A Regional Initiative for a Cross-Border Cryobank in the Western Balkans and the Caucasus – A case study based on a sample of fruit tree and grape local accessions

Activity Coordinator: Tatjana Vujović

The CryoConnect Activity, submitted by the Cryopreservation Working Group for funding under the Second Call of the Phase XI ECPGR Activity Grant Scheme, was selected by the Executive Committee and approved in March 2025. 

The project

CryoConnect is a subregional initiative aimed at developing a cross-border cryobank in the Western Balkans and the Caucasus, focusing on local fruit tree and grape accessions.

The initiative marks a significant step forward towards the long-term conservation of local plant genetic resources and brings together leading institutions from:

  • Serbia (Fruit Research Institute, Čačak)
  • Croatia (Faculty of Agriculture, Zagreb)
  • Albania (University of Tirana & Academy of Sciences of Albania, Tirana)
  • Georgia (Scientific Research Center of Agriculture, Tbilisi)

North Macedonia (Institute of Agriculture, Skopje) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Science, Sarajevo) participate as observers with the potential to join the initiative.

Project Objectives:

  • Build a shared cryobank infrastructure
    The project envisages the establishment of a shared cryo-bank at FRI Čačak, Serbia, serving as a cryo-backup of local genetic resources for the subregion.
  • Promote training and technology transfer and standardize cryopreservation protocols
    Cryoconservation and virus eradication protocols will be fine-tuned through training sessions in Čačak (August/September 2025)
  • Strengthen regional scientific collaboration
    A Memorandum of Understanding will be drafted to regulate terms and conditions of the use of the cryo-bank.
  • Enable long-term PGR conservation.
    All accessions involved will also become part of the European Collection (AEGIS), i.e. shared through the Standard Material Transfer Agreement

Implementation

August/September 2025
The CryoConnect Training School on Fruit Germplasm Cryopreservation In Vitro was successfully held at the Fruit Research Institute, Čačak, Serbia. [Agenda (662,2 KB)]

The training was conducted in two sessions:

  • 25–29 August: attended by Osman Musić, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Science, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  • 2–6 September: attended by Valbona Sota, University of Tirana (FNS, UT), Faculty of Natural Sciences, Tirana, Albania; Yllka Lala, Agricultural Technologies Transfer Center, Fushë Krujë, Albania; Tekle Zakalashvili, Scientific Research Center of Agriculture, Tbilisi, Georgia; and Viktor Gjamovski, University "Ss. Cyril and Methodius", Institute of Agriculture, Skopje, North Macedonia.

Zvjezdana Marković, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagreb, Croatia, will receive training later in the year.

The training covered droplet-vitrification, V cryo-plate, and D cryo-plate techniques, including all steps from the preparation of the necessary solutions and explant isolation to the full implementation of the cryopreservation protocols. To facilitate the learning process, participants received a training manual with detailed cryopreservation protocols.

For any remaining questions regarding the application of these techniques, additional online training schools will be organized as foreseen in the project.

CryoConnect training held at the Fruit Research Institute, Čačak, Serbia

June 2025
The Kick-off meeting of the CryoConnect Activity was held in Tirana, Albania, on 25 June 2025 (Agenda (265,1 KB) | List of participants (199,9 KB) | Presentations).

Related Information

 

ECPGR Cryopreservation Working Group