We will summarize the recent achievements of Bioversity International and the CGIAR System-wide Genetic Resources Programme (SGRP) in linking and integrating genebank information at a global scale. This was accomplished through the adoption of TDWG standards and Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) tools within the genebank community as a model. It is estimated that more than six million plant accessions are stored in ex situ collections worldwide and digitalized information on their essential characteristics have been gathered and stored in various institutions databases. Existing genebank information systems and portals, such as the CGIAR System-wide Information Network for Genetic Resources (SINGER) and the European Plant Genetic Resources Search Catalogue (EURISCO), are already major central entry points to such information. Their recent upgrade and adoption of TDWG/GBIF standards and protocols are making them more easily and readily accessible to the global community. Currently, information on over one third of the global holdings is available through the GBIF Portal through efforts from the genebank community. These efforts are aimed at contributing to the development of a global platform for the access and exchange of accession level information in support of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources (ITPGRFA) and its global Accession Level Information System (ALIS) on Plant Genetic Resources, called for in Article 17 of the ITPGRFA.