The objective of M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) is to revitalize and conserve valuable crop genetic resources through in-situ and on-farm conservation traditions of tribal communities. MSSRF developed mechanisms for making conservation and commercialization mutually reinforcing through Participatory Conservation System, Participatory Varietal Selection (PVS), establishment of Field Gene Banks, and community empowerment through networking and capacity building. Results of the works carried out encouraged more and more tribal farm families to participate and revive their traditional crops on- farm. It is time to conserve and utilize local genotypes to meet the changing climate and achieve a secure livelihood. MSSRF is working with landraces of rice, small millets, green gram and medicinal plants in Jeypore and mangroves in Kendrapada district of Odisha.

Under the Conservation MSSRF doing the activities on these aspect as follows:

• Rice Landrace Conservation
• Promoting Small Millets for Improved Tribal Economy and Food Security
• Ex-situ Conservation, Cultivation and Commercialization of Medicinal Plants
• Coastal Wetlands: Mangrove Conservation Management in Odisha
• Qualitative Assessment and Mapping of Plant Resources of Eastern Ghats
• Globally Important Agriculture Heritage Systems (GIAHS)