seedconservation

Seed conservation is the practice of preserving seeds to protect plant genetic diversity for current and future use. It includes ex situ preservation, where seeds are stored in controlled facilities, and in situ conservation, where wild populations and crops are maintained in their natural habitats. Seed conservation supports biodiversity, food security, and ecosystem restoration by safeguarding genetic resources that breeders and researchers rely on.

Most seed conservation focuses on orthodox seeds—those that can be dried and frozen. Such seeds are dried to low moisture and stored at low temperatures in seed banks, commonly around -18 to -20°C. Regular viability testing and periodic regeneration are needed to maintain germination rates. Recalcitrant seeds, which resist drying and freezing, require alternative methods such as cryopreservation or living collections. Storage conditions vary, but standard practice uses sealed, moisture-proof containers with taxonomic data and careful indexing. International cooperation and documentation help coordinate collections, sharing data about provenance and viability.

Global networks and initiatives play a key role. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway stores duplicates of seeds from national and regional banks as a backup. The Millennium Seed Bank Partnership links seed banks in the UK and worldwide for conservation and research. International frameworks, such as the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, support access to and sharing of plant genetic resources.

Challenges include funding, governance, access rights, equitable benefit sharing, and ensuring coverage of diverse wild and crop species. Technical issues such as seed longevity, regeneration cycles, and climate change threats also pose ongoing concerns. Seed conservation remains a foundational component of biodiversity preservation and sustainable agriculture.