The N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR), founded in 1921 and based in Saint Petersburg, Russia, is a world-leading center for the collection, preservation, and study of plant genetic resources. Named after the renowned geneticist Nikolai Vavilov, it maintains over 330,000 accessions of seeds and cultivated plants from more than 90 countries. The institute conducts research in plant breeding, genetics, biodiversity, and crop evolution, supports global food security, and provides training for plant scientists and breeders.