Genebanks need to make the most effective use possible of their limited resources. Several studies have attempted to quantify the costs of genebank operations.
In an effort to promote cost-effective operation, CGIAR developed a decision support tool to categorise and compile all possible genebank costs.
This tool – available for download as an Excel spreadsheet – is based on extensive consultations. The prototype has been reviewed by genebank managers and was used to develop scenarios and test hypotheses about the cost-effectiveness of integrating tasks and operations across the CGIAR system. It was also used to determine their annual budget.
The tool can help a genebank to identify unit costs (e.g. cost of storing, regenerating etc. one accession) and, indirectly, to identify cost drivers (e.g. factors that cause a change in the cost of an activity).