The Institute of Plant Breeding & Genetic Resources (IPB&GR) is one of the 11 Institutes under the General Directorate of Agricultural Research of ELGO-DIMITRA, headquartered in Thermi, Thessaloniki. Established in 1923 as the Institute for Plant Improvement, it also operates research units in Naoussa (Deciduous Tree Department), Vardates, Fthiotida (Nut Crops Department), and the Research and Development Support Center for the Agri-Food Sector (Drama).

The IPB&GR conducts research in the following areas:

  • Plant Breeding: For cereals, tobacco, cotton, hemp, vegetables, aromatic plants, ornamental plants, deciduous trees, and nut crops, focusing on high quality, nutritional value, and resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses.
  • Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources: Both wild and cultivated, using biotechnological and classical methods for plant propagation.
  • Modern -omics Approaches
  • Plant Protection
  • Utilization of Renewable Energy Sources
  • Technology and Quality of Plant Species and Products
  • Sustainable Farming Systems
  • Evaluation of Plant-Based Products: Regarding their nutritional value and biofunctional properties to develop high-added-value products and foods.

The Institute is equipped with modern laboratories for genetic, molecular, and biochemical analyses employing cutting-edge -omics approaches. It also has advanced greenhouse facilities, hydroponic cultivation systems, and tools to monitor greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture.

Specialized Research Facilities and Services:

  • Gene Bank: For the conservation of genetic material.
  • Balkan Botanical Garden of Kroussia
  • Laboratories for Genomics, Tissue Culture, and Plant Biotechnology
  • Laboratory for Technology and Analysis of Plant-Derived Products
  • Laboratory for Industrial and Medicinal Cannabis
  • Laboratory for Sustainable Agricultural Structures and Renewable Energy Resources
  • Infrastructure for the Conservation and Utilization of Wild and Ornamental Species
  • Quality Control Infrastructure for Aromatic/Medicinal Plants and Tobacco Products
  • Facilities for the Preservation of Propagation Material Registered in the National Catalog