A seed bank is a facility in which seeds are purchased, sold, and stored to preserve plants’ genetic diversity by plant breeders.Depending on the country you are living in, the rules and regulations regarding CBD may vary. For example, the United States of America has already legalized the use of marijuana in more than two-thirds of the states under the category of medical treatment. While it is indeed legal, it has only been approved by the FDA for epilepsy treatment.

How Do They Work?

Seed banks store and manage seeds for those who have the business to use them. Usually, plant breeders and farmers frequent these stores as seeds are a quintessential aspect of their professional line. However, not all seed banks utilize the same storing system, e.g., storing by clay pots, plastic pots, terracotta pots, etc.

The concept is similar to that of a monetary bank. Farmers or plant breeders can purchase or store their seeds for future planting and is fully within their own volition. Seed banks worldwide have become a safe haven for farmers and plant breeders alike because natural disasters, e.g., floods, hurricanes, landslide, drought, etc., and pests destroy their seeds, which results in failure to grow crops.

Seeds are commonly stored within pots of their own choosing based on the farmer or plant breeder’s requirement then stored within a shed, building, or shelf for safekeeping. However, some seed banks have their own seed vault, which is similar to a bank vault that stores seeds within an underground chamber with their own intricate security system. 

Why Do They Matter?

Seed banks preserve seeds for genetic diversity and ensuring food supply due to them being a prerequisite of crops and harvests. A seed bank is also used for re-plantation and reforestation. For instance, due to the major wildfire that devastated Australia, seed banks played a key role in providing plant seeds for reforestation of Australia’s lush green and restocking plant population as well. Without seed banks, wildlife would lose their homes and have the possibility of going extinct.

Climate change has also devastated lots of vegetation. Thankfully, several seed banks have resilient seeds that are able to adapt to changing climates. Hopefully, we are able to contribute more to the struggle in preserving the planet.