Kew's Millennium Seed Bank is sharing its expertise in seed banking

Kew has more than 40 years experience in seed conservation. Through the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership we share our knowledge and experience with others, from school children to the global science community and leading policy makers. We aim to increase awareness of the importance of plants for life.

Sharing MSBP expertise - a training course in China

An MSBP training course in China

Helping our partners save seeds for the future

Kew's Millennium Seed Bank has established a global network of partners and projects committed to saving plants world wide. We support our partners and help them develop the technical infrastructure needed to conserve seeds. We focus on saving seeds from plants identified as being at risk of extinction.

Capacity building through Kew's MSBP

Providing training, technical support and information, we ensure that our partners have the skills, facilities and knowledge needed to successfully conserve seeds and meet critical global seed conservation targets. We also work with younger budding seed collectors, to raise awareness of the importance of seed conservation.

Training in seed conservation skills and theory

MSBP provides a range of professional training to suit the needs of partners and collaborators. We teach the scientific processes required to save seeds effectively, as well as new and improved seed conservation techniques to help seed collectors, seed bank staff and those working in seed research.

Find out more about the MSBP's training programme

Seed bank technology transfer

MSBP gives advice to other seed banks on the equipment and facilities needed for successful seed conservation.

Find out more about the MSBP's technology transfer activities

Sharing information to support seed banking

We share data, information and knowledge generated from our seed science and continuing research with a worldwide audience. Outside the relatively narrow field of seed conservation, most of the information we share is relevant to the wider sphere of seed biology - including physiology, biochemistry, ecology, morphology - and botany in general. Users of our various information products regard us as a 'one-stop-shop' for seed biology information.

• Find out more about Kew’s Seed Information Database
• Find out more about the MSBP’s Technical information resources
• Find out more about the UK Germination Toolbox

Inspiring young people

To mark the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth Kew commissioned The Great Plant Hunt. Funded by the Wellcome Trust, this exciting project encourages children to explore the natural world around them and join other schools in the biggest ever school science project.

Forming part of the Darwin 200 Initiative, The Great Plant Hunt invites primary school children to follow in the footsteps of Darwin by going on nature walks in and around their school grounds. They'll find out more about plants and in the process learn key scientific skills.

Helping gardeners save seeds

We work with Garden Organic and Seedy Sunday to organise an annual Seed Festival at Wakehurst Place. As well as swap seeds, visitors can listen to talks and demonstrations by Kew’s MSB experts, browse stalls selling local produce, and taste delicious meals prepared from heritage vegetables grown in the Wakehurst nursery.