Fræbankar

Fræbankar, also known as seed banks, are facilities that preserve seeds of plant varieties for long-term storage. The primary purpose of a fræbank is to conserve crop diversity and protect against the loss of genetic resources that are crucial for food security. These facilities serve as a safeguard against potential threats such as climate change, natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and armed conflicts, which could devastate existing crop populations.

The seeds stored in fræbankar are collected from diverse geographic regions and represent a wide range of agricultural crops and their wild relatives. The collection process involves careful identification, collection, drying, and packaging of seeds under controlled conditions to ensure their viability. Once stored, seeds are kept at low temperatures and humidity levels to maximize their longevity, often for decades or even centuries.

Beyond conservation, fræbankar also play a vital role in research and breeding programs. Scientists can access these stored seeds to study genetic traits, develop new crop varieties with improved characteristics like disease resistance or higher yields, and reintroduce lost or endangered species back into the wild. Major international fræbankar, such as the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway, act as a backup for national and regional collections, further enhancing the security of global plant genetic resources. The existence of these repositories is a critical component of efforts to ensure a resilient and sustainable food supply for the future.