Los Baños, Philippines (28 April 2025) — In a major step toward harmonizing laboratory quality across CGIAR’s global network, the Germplasm Health Units (GHUs) concluded a 15-week intensive training on ISO/IEC 17025:2017, the international standard for testing and calibration laboratories.

Hosted by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the training will help strengthen the technical capacity of CGIAR laboratories by equipping them with the knowledge and tools to elevate their testing, calibration, and sampling practices.

Opening session, Dr. Lava Kumar (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture), Area of Work Lead for Germplasm Health, Genebanks Accelerator, emphasized the importance of upholding quality and excellence across all GHUs

Dr. Martina Castellion, Senior Research Manager of IRRI’s Seed Health and Logistics Unit (SHU) and AoW Co-lead, noted that the initiative is a turning point for this Community of Practice (CoP), where continuous learning and co-development of practical solutions for harmonizing germplasm health standards are promoted.

Under the guidance of Lily Molina, IRRI’s Research and Laboratory Quality Manager, participants tackled each clause of the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard through a mix of lectures, hands-on exercises, and peer-learning activities. The training culminated in a mock internal audit, giving participants a preview of implementing quality management systems (QMS) in laboratory settings.

For most of the participants, the audit was the most valuable part of the training. Wuu-Yang Willie Chen, Manager of Global Seed Health and Quarantine at World Vegetable Center, said, “The audit helped us identify non-conformities within our systems and pinpoint where improvements are needed. This process strengthens our QMS and ensures we stay aligned with ISO/IEC 17025.”

The initiative was organized by IRRI’s Human Resources and Organizational Development (HROD) unit with technical support from the Seed Health and Logistics Unit (SHU). It forms part of the CGIAR Genebanks Accelerator Germplasm Health Area of Work, which aims to promote agile phytosanitary health delivery systems.