Preserving Our Future: The Vital Role of Seed Conservation
As harvest season draws near, we revel in the bounty that our land provides. Yet, amidst the vibrant crops and bountiful produce, there lies a crucial element that often goes unnoticed—the humble seed. Seed preservation is far more than a conservation effort; it is an essential practice that impacts our land, food systems, health and overall survival. In this post, we will explore the profound importance of seed preservation and highlight the support of the Plant a Seed & See What Grows Foundation to two organizations which amplify our efforts in our shared values to preserve seeds and to keep them in the public domain.
Why Seed Preservation Matters
Seeds are the cornerstone of our agricultural systems. They carry within them the genetic blueprints that ensure crop resilience, nutritional diversity, and food security. Each seed represents not only a potential plant but also a crucial element of our global food system. Preserving seeds is essential for maintaining a varied diet rich in essential nutrients, which contributes to better health outcomes and ensures food security for future generations.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported as early as in 2010 that approximately 7.4 million seed samples are conserved worldwide. However, these samples are concentrated in just a few countries, with 45% of them stored in only seven nations. This concentration underscores the pressing need to expand seed conservation efforts and make diverse seed collections accessible globally. Ensuring genetic diversity through seed preservation allows us to conserve plant species that can adapt to environmental changes and safeguard our agricultural culture and heritage.
The Impact of Support: Spotlight on Two Key Organizations
Seeds of Diversity and UBC Botanical Garden’s Seed Collectors Group are some of those leading the charge in seed preservation, and their impactful work is made possible by the support of dedicated funders, such our Foundation. Since 2017, here are some of our contributions in support of their achievements:
1. The Seedy Growers – UBC Botanical Garden’s Seed Collectors Group
For over two decades, the Seedy Growers have been committed to preserving seeds for education, research, conservation, and public engagement. Their recent efforts highlight the tangible impacts of their work:
- Expanding Genetic Diversity: The Seedy Growers have broadened their seed collections by collecting, drying, and packaging seeds from a wide range of plants. In 2023, the Plant a Seed Foundation’s contribution facilitated the creation of a custom display stand, crafted by a local seniors’ woodworking group, which showcases their diverse seed collection. This year also saw a shift from plastic to paper seed envelopes, a cost-effective and environmentally conscious change that supports in-house printing. These improvements helped the sale of 832 seed packets, generating $3,322 in revenue for the UBC Botanical Garden.
Photo caption: In 2023, Plant a Seed’s contribution supported the creation of a custom display
stand which showcases the Seedy Growers’ diverse seed collection.
- Enhancing Collection Completeness: The UBC Botanical Garden’s focus on collecting seldom-grown ferns, either by spore or rhizome, has strengthened their collection and filled important gaps. This initiative builds on their existing herb collection and helps preserve lesser-known plant species.
Photo caption: dryopteris goldiana
- Cost Effectiveness: Thanks to a 2019 collecting trip, approximately 600 wild-origin plants, or any kind of plant that grows naturally in their native habitats without human intervention, have been added to the Botanical Garden’s collections at a cost-effective price of $1.50 per plant. This affordability aligns with the Botanical Garden’s mission to make unique plant species accessible and preserve them for future generations.
- Public Engagement and Education: The living collections at the Botanical Garden serve as the base for their outreach and education programs. These plants are featured in educational initiatives and social media posts, raising awareness about wild-origin plants and their importance.
Photo Caption: One of Seeds of Diversity’s participation at a community event.
This organization has united thousands of farmers and gardeners across Canada to preserve and protect food crop seeds. Their work addresses the significant loss of biodiversity that occurred in the 20th century and adapts to the challenges of the 21st century, such as climate change and soil depletion. Here are some key their achievements that Plant a Seed has supported:
- Ensuring Seed Viability and Germination: Seeds of Diversity employs rigorous testing protocols to ensure that seeds remain viable and germinate effectively. Seeds are tested upon arrival and before distribution to confirm their quality. Their germination testing involves placing seeds on paper towels, counting sprouted seeds, and recording results in their Seed Library database. This meticulous approach ensures that only high-quality seeds are distributed.
- Preserving Genetic Diversity: By maintaining a short-term “working collection” and a long-term “back-up collection,” the organization supports crop resilience, adaptability and ensures seed availability for all its members and when crisis situations occur. Their seed exchange, open to members across Canada, fosters a diverse seed network, promoting genetic diversity and resilience in crops.
- Optimizing Storage Conditions: Seeds of Diversity uses air-tight canning jars for short-term storage and chest freezers for long-term preservation. Seeds are conditioned for freezing with silica gel to remove moisture, ensuring they remain viable for 15 years or more. This approach helps maintain seed quality over extended periods.
Photo caption: Seeds of Diversity’s working collection is housed in standard canning jars, which are excellent for seed storage because they are air-tight and come in many sizes to allow various quantities and sizes of seeds to be stored compactly. Every box and every jar has a letter code and every sample of seeds has a number, allowing seeds to be located through a database similarly to the way that libraries catalogue books on their shelves.
- Addressing Collection Completeness: Their comprehensive index of seed varieties helps identify gaps and prioritize collection efforts. With 7,357 varieties at risk of becoming inaccessible, their collection backs up 1,223 cultivars, representing 13% of all vegetable and fruit varieties sold in Canada. This effort is crucial in protecting vulnerable seed varieties.
- Expanding Utilization and Distribution: Through their online seed exchange and participation in Seedy Saturdays and Seedy Sundays, Seeds of Diversity distributes diverse seeds to gardeners across Canada. Last winter, they offered 2,914 different seed varieties through their exchange and distributed 4,320 seed packets at various events, enhancing seed diversity for gardeners.
- Promoting Public Engagement and Education: The organization’s educational outreach includes a monthly e-bulletin, social media updates, and a comprehensive seed-saving book available in multiple languages. Their active participation in community events and educational programs raises awareness about seed conservation and engages a wide audience.
Photo Caption: This comprehensive seed-saving reference is available in multiple languages.
The Power of Funding and Support
The significant impact of these organizations is made possible through the collective support of like-minded organizations, such as Plant a Seed which understands the importance of seed preservation. By investing in these initiatives, we help contribute to:
- Strengthening Seed Networks: Financial support helps expand and improve seed-sharing networks, ensuring a broader reach and more robust conservation efforts.
- Establishing New Seed Banks: Funding enables the creation of new seed banks, crucial for preserving diverse seed collections and safeguarding genetic material.
- Enhancing Food Security: Supporting seed conservation efforts bolsters food security by promoting resilient agricultural systems and ensuring access to diverse and nutritious food sources.
How You Can Get Involved
As we celebrate the harvest season, let us remember the vital work of seed preservation. Supporting organizations dedicated to this cause, whether through donations, volunteering, or advocacy, contributes to a future where our agricultural systems remain diverse, resilient, and capable of meeting the unknown challenges ahead. Connect with us and let’s explore ways to get involved and support seed conservation efforts. By doing so, we help ensure that the seeds of today will continue to thrive and sustain us for generations to come.
