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SEEDS FOR LIFE: a Seed Partnership between Kenya Seed Conservation Agencies and the RBG Kew Millennium Seed Bank Project

Western Australian partners join the Kenyan Seeds for Life team on a joint collecting and training trip to the granite inselbergs of Eastern Kenya

The Partners have identified the following key project outputs and activities over the six year project period:

·        Capacity of communities and their partners to conserve and use Plant Genetic Resources improved. The Project will train target communities on aspects of seed collection, handling and storage and sustainable natural resources management. Relevant training will also be supported in Partner institutions. The Project will support the enhancement of partnerships and linkages amongst communities, institutions and projects for conservation through use of indigenous PGR.

·        In situ and ex situ conservation of priority plant diversity in drylands enhanced.  The Project will support the establishment of community seed centres, nurseries and demonstration planting of indigenous species. The Partners will: conserve germplasm by undertaking seed collecting missions; store seed collections in Kenyan ex situ facilities, such as the National Genebank of Kenya; duplicate collections at the RBG Kew seed bank for long-term conservation and safe-keeping; carry out viability testing of stored seed through germination experiments following standard seed bank management protocols; carry out taxonomic verification and seed studies to support development of long term seed banking protocols.

·        Uptake of information and adoption of appropriate technologies for PGR conservation enhanced. There will be dissemination of information to communities via community seed centres in the most appropriate means to meet local needs. The Project will review traditional practices of seed handling and improve selected PGR conservation technologies for the benefit of target communities.

Project targets include: the collection of seed from c. 1,500 species new to MSB; execution of two PhD programmes and two MSc Programmes; six technical attachments; and purchase of major equipment for upgrading of National Genebank facilities and field equipment.

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