US scientists are collaborating in a project to develop a conservation strategy for crop wild relatives occurring in the US, especially species that are potentially useful to US agriculture. Crop wild relatives have contributed valuable traits to crop breeding programs, especially for pest and disease resistance, and will likely be key resources utilized to meet the challenges of global food production in this century as agriculture adapts to challenges of resource limitations and climate change. The project builds upon an effort to compile a national inventory of the native and naturalized CWR in the US, spearheaded by Dr. Stephanie Greene at the ARS genebank in Prosser WA. Learn more about the CWR of the US project at

http://cwroftheus.wordpress.com/.