The future of Kew's Millennium Seed Bank partnership

The need for large-scale wild seed banking is evident. Now, in the face of increasing threats to plants from clearing of primary vegetation, over-exploitation, climate change and a burgeoning human population, we urgently need to scale up our activities.

What's next for Kew's Millennium Seed Bank partnership

 Over the next 10 years, Kew's Millennium Seed Bank is building upon its current global partnership to save 25% of the world’s species by 2020.

 Collection programmes are prioritising species from mountain, dryland, coastal and island environments. Research shows that these ecosystems are the most vulnerable to climate change.

More importantly, we will put these species to use in developing innovative, plant-based solutions to the major environmental challenges that we all face - food security, water scarcity, deforestation, energy and climate change. New plant species will need to be used and new crop varieties will need to be developed. These will include drought resistant crop and forage species that sustain the world’s poorest communities; salt tolerant and desert pioneer species that combat desertification; and photosynthetically efficient and energy-rich plants with potential as biofuels.

Building our knowledge and sharing expertise

 Scientists at Kew's Millennium Seed Bank partnership will continue to carry out research that will enable us to select, store, germinate and use as many plant species as possible.

 We are working with DEFRA and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations to improve handling and storage of seeds in agricultural gene banks in 38 sub-Saharan African countries. In these regions we have run training courses to overcome constraints to the conservation of more than 200 well-adapted, local plant species that are important for human livelihoods. This work will enable us to improve the germination and seed storage for vital African fruit trees like the custard apple, bird plum, and manketti tree. As well as vital fruit crops, this work will also improve the germination and seed storage of grain species like finger millet and sorghum, spinach species including roselle, jute and sesame and other food plants such as wild melons.

We are training foresters and agricultural extension workers in the use of our methods to make sure that they result in improved seed conservation practices in rural communities in Africa.

Restoring habitats worldwide

 An important and growing area of research at Kew is restoration ecology.

 Kew's Millennium Seed Bank Partnership is actively involved in re-introducing threatened plants back into the wild. Our recent success stories include:

* reintroduction of triangular club rush in the UK
* reintroduction of Banksia brownii in Western Australia
* restoration and fire management of sand plain fynbos in South Africa
* restoration of mined lands in Madagascar

We are currently in the process of establishing a UK Native Seed Hub at the MSB that will supply well provenanced, high quality seeds to the UK native seed industry and other users. We will also be increasingly involved in habitat restoration initiatives in challenging habitats like tropical forests and deserts.

Leading projects like this make us one the most ambitious ex situ conservation programmes in the world. They also give us all cause for optimism for the future. The problems posed by climate change and other human impacts on plant diversity are surmountable, and Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank Partnership is leading the effort.

How you can help...

Plants are under threat in today's world. If we continue on our current path, we will lose a species a day for the next 50 years.

By making a donation to Kew's Millennium Seed Bank partnership, you can help one of the largest and most ambitious conservation projects in the world make a real difference. Find out how your donation can make a difference.

Give now and help Kew save the world’s plant life for the future