Seed Bank in England: 25 Years of Preserving Plant Diversity

In southern England, an underground vault called the Millennium Seed Bank is celebrating its 25th anniversary. This remarkable facility, part of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, houses over 2.5 billion seeds from about 40,000 plant species worldwide. The seeds are carefully preserved at extremely low temperatures to protect them from extinction.

The process of seed preservation is meticulous. Field collectors gather seeds from various countries and send them to Kew. The seeds undergo drying, cleaning, and viability testing before being stored in the vault. This cold storage significantly extends the lifespan of the seeds.

Over the years, the Millennium Seed Bank has grown into a global partnership, collaborating with 279 organizations across more than 100 countries. Its mission extends beyond storage; the bank aims to use these seeds for restoring natural habitats and combating biodiversity loss and climate change. Additionally, Kew has trained thousands of scientists globally in seed conservation techniques.

With nearly half of all flowering plants at risk of extinction, the seed bank's work is crucial for preserving global plant diversity for future generations.