Institute of Genetic Resources

The Institute of Genetic Resources was established due to the need for an institutional and legal framework for the activities in the field of conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources in the Republic of Srpska.

The establishment of the Institute of Genetic Resources was formally initiated by the Decision of the Republic of Srpska National Assembly No 01-936/09 of 10 June 2008. Namely, the Programme for Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources in the Republic of Srpska was adopted by this Decision.

The Institute of Genetic Resources was established as an organisational unit of the University of Banja Luka. Pursuant to the Decision on Establishment, the land and the buildings on the site of the University Botanical Garden were given for use to the Institute. During 2009 and 2010, the buildings were repaired and expanded to serve the needs of the Gene Bank and the laboratory complex of the Institute as well as to purchase laboratory furniture and provide advanced training to the staff.

The Institute was established as a University research institute, in accordance with the legislation governing higher education and scientific research.

Decision on Operating Certificate and entry into the Register of Research Institutes of the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of Srpska was issued by the Minister of Science and Technology on 24 February 2009.

The Institute of Genetic Resources was incorporated as an organisational unit of the University of Banja Luka by Banja Luka Basic Court Decision of 11 September 2009. It is registered with the Tax Administration of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Srpska and has been entered into the Farm Household Register of the Agency for Intermediary, IT and Financial Services in Banja Luka.

The Institute became technically operational and started operating officially in September 2010.

Since 2012, after declaring the University campus a protected area listed as IUCN Category VI, the Institute has been performing two main activities: firstly, the maintenance of the Republic of Srpska genetic resource bank and coordination of the programmes for conservation, collection, characterisation and evaluation of genetic resources and, secondly, the management of the protected area and maintenance of the park, botanical garden and other green areas in the campus.

The Institute of Genetic Resources consists of two organisational sub-units: 
1. Centre for Biodiversity, 
2. Centre for Sustainable Use of Genetic Resources

The Centre for Biodiversity is responsible for the activities pertaining to basic and applied researches, while the Centre for Sustainable Use of Genetic Resources is in charge of the activities related to technological progress, innovation, regional and the overall socio-economic sustainable development as well as the practical application of scientific and expert results. The Plant Gene Bank of the Republic of Srpska is part of the Centre for Sustainable Use of Genetic Resources.

The Institute of Genetic Resources is entered into the register of producers of pome and stone fruits, nuts and berries, grapevines and perennial ornamental plants – perennials, shrubs, roses, lilacs, boxwoods and other species not on the list of forest trees, hybrids and varieties. The Institute is also entered into the register of importers of planting material, which gives it the right to import pre-basic, basic, certified and standard planting material that has a planting material production certificate and a health document issued by the competent authority of the exporting country. Furthermore, the Institute is entered into the register of producers of forest reproductive material. By this Decision the Institute is entitled to produce seeds of cereals, industrial crops, fodder crops, vegetable plants, medicinal plants, aromatic plants, herbs, flowers, tubers, bulbs and garlic bulbs. The Institute of Genetic Resources is authorised to have the testing and reference phytosanitary laboratories organise and conduct activities of public interest in the field of diagnostics of harmful organisms and plant health protection.

The Institute of Genetic Resources has an extensive portfolio of cooperation agreements and active cooperation with relevant institutions and institutes in the country, the region and globally alike. It is especially interesting to mention that it participates in the ECPGR - European Cooperative Programme for Plant Genetic Resources, that it is a member of the European Gene Bank (AEGIS) and that it cooperates with the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture and Food relating to the seed deposit at Svalbard Global Seed Vault.

Since 2014, the Institute has been undertaking teaching in collaboration with the Faculty of Agriculture and the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics within the Combined Study Programme of the second cycle Conservation and Sustainable Use of Genetic Resources.

Phone	+387 51 348 080
Fax	+387 51 348 089
Website	www.igr.unibl.org
Email	info@igr.unibl.org
Address	University City, 1A Vojvode Petra Bojovića Blvd. Banja Luka, 78 000
Director	Marina Antić