Scientists issued a rallying cry for greater global cooperation to safeguard seeds for future food and nutrition security, at the Global Crop Diversity Summit in Berlin on 14 November 2023. It raised political awareness of the important role that crop diversity plays in securing nutritious agrifood systems for everyone, and the need to strengthen cooperation among seedbanks.

The summit was hosted by the Global Crop Diversity Trust (Crop Trust) and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (International Plant Treaty). From WorldVeg, Marco Wopereis (Director General) and Maarten van Zonneveld (Genetic Resources Manager) played active roles in discussions that lead to the final outcomes, with Marco Wopereis also giving the keynote address the session, ‘From seeds to supper: The role of seed banks in transforming our agri-food systems.’

However, without more sustained funding and a greater recognition of their importance from policymakers, seedbanks and the crops whose seeds they protect are at grave risk. Cooling systems can fail, infrastructure becomes outdated, and they at risk during political and civil unrest. The climate crisis, natural disasters and international conflict compound the damage. In a communique announced at the Summit, the coalition of experts highlighted key urgent actions that must be prioritized by governments to help safeguard the world’s crop diversity and secure future food security, and seedbanks must be at the forefront.

1. The need for greater international cooperation – working towards a global seedbank partnership, allowing cross-sector collaboration and research.
2. Urgent investment – to ensure the sustainable operation, maintenance, and expansion of seed banks worldwide.
3. Raising awareness – by establishing a future annual ‘crop diversity day’ to raise awareness of the global importance of crop diversity.
4. Supporting national crop diversity efforts – to champion the importance of crop diversity at policy level.

The call to action from the summit was targeted at policymakers and stakeholders to prioritize efforts that will transform food systems. And seedbanks are central to protecting, growing and diversifying humanity’s food supplies, where hundreds of them worldwide stored crop diversity, including of traditional or minor crops, many of which are climate resilient and culturally significant.

See also

Scientists issue rallying cry for greater global cooperation to safeguard seeds for future food and nutrition security – Crop Trust