Technical Abstract: The use of genetic resources for crop improvement has undergone a fundamental shift. Continued progress will be dependent upon the natural variation contained within the world’s gene banks. Gene banks must manage their collections in ways that promote their utilization by increasing access to not only the living materials but also to the vast amounts of data that describe them. Documentation of ecological, phenotypic, pedigree, and genetic data associated with gene bank accessions is critical for the efficient use of genetic resources. We must develop a capacity within the genetic resources community to integrate genomic data from gene discovery projects to improve core gene bank management and services.