Crop genetic resources [CGR] in a broad sense include the crop plants themselves, wild relatives, and, with the advent of gene transformation technology, the whole biological realm. The study of CGR has evolved into a proper field of scientific study that has esoteric and applied aspects leading to global food and biological security. Little did Frank Meyer suspect that his legacy of plant exploration and collecting would lead to a very active field of science for the benefit of agriculture, food, and medicine. This presentation will touch on many of the CGR issues based on the experiences of the author and his colleagues, including collection and conservation strategies, characterization and evaluation, redundancy, gene discovery, geographic differentiation, rare and common genes using barley, wheat, triticale, rye, and Dasypyrum villosum. The CRG conservation strategies must consider both in situ and ex situ aspects of protection of critical gene pools. A special plea will be made to facilitate the rescue of imperiled collections emanating from research and collection efforts of individual scientists and hobbyists. Protecting access to molecular genomic resources of many crops and potential gene donors, relatively new category of CGR, is new challenge to the plant genetic resources community. Finally, using CGR to produce new varieties closes the loop in the CGR schema, and still remains the most recognizable evidence that CGR are worthy of investment of human and financial resources.