Crop Trust

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Ensuring the conservation and availability of crop diversity for food security worldwide

16/10/2026

This week at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Science and Innovation Forum in Rome, the session “Growing the Future: Botanic Gardens as Agrifood Allies” brought together global experts from botanic gardens, agriculture, conservation and food systems to explore how these institutions can contribute to dietary diversity, food security and more resilient agrifood systems.

The session also launched the FAO Global Network on Botanic Gardens for Food Security, Dietary Diversity & Agrifood Systems Transformation, creating new opportunities for collaboration between botanic gardens, genebanks and agrifood stakeholders.

Crop Trust Board Member and FAO Goodwill Ambassador for the Kingdom of Jordan, Princess Basma bint Ali, delivered a speech highlighting how stronger collaboration can help conserve and make better use of crop diversity for the future of food.

Colin Khoury, Project Manager of the Global Conservation Consortium for Food Plants, joined partners including the International Plant Treaty, Botanic Gardens Conservation International - BGCI, World Vegetable Center and Kew Gardens, among others, to discuss how botanic gardens can do more to safeguard and promote opportunity crops, wild and foraged species, and crop wild relatives outside mainstream food systems, and help connect this diversity with nutrition and food programs.

15/10/2026

In the face of conflict, safeguarding crop diversity becomes more urgent than ever. This year, Ukraine’s National Plant Genebank, part of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences, sent 773 seed samples to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, creating secure backups of valuable genetic resources that can be recovered if the original collection is damaged or lost. The deposit was supported through the Emergency Reserve for Genebanks, jointly managed by the International Plant Treaty and the Crop Trust.

The challenging preparation process involved the team vacuuming seeds amid military hostilities, completing the necessary documentation and arranging packaging and transportation. Among the deposited samples is buckwheat, a crop deeply rooted in Ukraine’s food and farming traditions. Used in porridge and soups, it also serves as an insurance crop thanks to its short growing season, allowing farmers to sow it when winter crops fail.

By safeguarding these seeds, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault helps ensure that Ukraine’s valuable crop diversity remains available for future generations.

14/10/2026

Genebanks from around the world deposited thousands of seed samples in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault yesterday, demonstrating how international cooperation helps protect the future of food. Six international genebanks of the CGIAR and Ukraine’s national genebank were among 21 institutions securing crop diversity – seeds that farmers and scientists need to adapt and strengthen food security.

The deposit comes ahead of the ceremony for the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for International Cooperation at the end of October. Awarded to the Seed Vault for its contribution to conserving crop diversity and advancing cooperation around food security, the honor recognizes the international trust behind this shared effort.

Highlights from the October 2026 deposit include:

🌱 Six CGIAR Genebanks contributed a total of 8,917 samples, with Mexico-based International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) making the largest deposit of 3,370 samples of common, durum and emmer wheats, triticale and maize.

🌱 Ukraine's National Academy of Agrarian Sciences deposited 773 seed samples of buckwheat and other crops, prepared and shipped despite the challenges.

🌱 One new depositor joined from Italy – The Council for Agricultural Research and Economics CREA - Ricerca deposited historic wheat and rice varieties.

The 13 October deposit added to the more than 1.4 million seed samples already safeguarded inside the Arctic mountain. Behind the effort to ship seeds to Svalbard are genebank teams protecting crops that feed communities around the world.

International Plant Treaty, NordGen, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas - ICARDA, International Potato Center, IRRI, World Vegetable Center

13/10/2026

This October, the International Potato Center (CIP) is depositing 1,027 seed samples in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, strengthening the long-term protection of its globally important collections of potato, sweetpotato and Andean roots and tubers.

Among the seeds is also maca, an Andean crop cultivated by Indigenous communities for thousands of years and valued as a nutrient-rich food and ingredient in traditional medicine.

With this deposit, 91% of CIP’s seed collection will have safety duplicates at Svalbard.

The shipment also reflects the ongoing work required to safeguard crop diversity. Some seeds replace earlier deposits whose germination rates had fallen below required standards. Regenerating these materials, particularly wild species that are difficult to flower and produce seeds, required years of coordinated work by CIP teams in Lima, Huancayo and San Ramón.

CGIAR Genebanks, International Plant Treaty

12/10/2026

Tomorrow, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault opens its doors for the October deposit!

Among the deposits are more than 3,000 wheat and maize seed samples from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Mexico. Safeguarded as backup copies, the seeds will help keep valuable genetic diversity available for future research, plant breeding and food security.

Behind every seed is the work of scientists and genebank teams who document accessions, monitor seed quality, test germination and regenerate collections when needed. Before seeds can be shared, they must meet strict quality and health requirements to ensure they remain viable and safe for use.

The Seed Vault provides a secure backup, but protecting crop diversity also depends on the ongoing work of genebanks worldwide to conserve seeds and keep them available for future generations.

CGIAR Genebanks, International Plant Treaty

11/10/2026

Rising costs are putting pressure on potato farmers in East Africa. To fight late blight, they may have to spray their fields up to 15 times per season. A potential solution lies in the potato’s wild relatives. Naturally resilient to pests, diseases and harsh conditions, they carry valuable traits that can help breeders develop stronger varieties.

Through the Crop Trust’s BOLD Project, scientists at the International Potato Center are using this diversity to develop potatoes with natural resistance to late blight. In Kenya, farmers are testing new varieties in the field to identify those that could reduce pesticide use, lower costs and improve yields.

By bringing Andean potato diversity into African breeding programs, this work is helping develop more resilient potatoes and help boost local livelihoods.

10/10/2026

The Executive Board of the Crop Trust will see some changes in the coming months, including a new Chair and two new Board members. The leadership transition comes as the organization prepares for the next chapter in its mission to safeguard crop diversity for the future of food.

Read more via the link in the comments.

09/10/2026

The Crop Trust is seeking an Educational Consultant to develop an outreach strategy for Conserving and Using Crop Diversity, an interactive online learning experience hosted through the Crop Trust Genebank Academy.

The platform introduces learners to the importance of conserving and using crop diversity through interactive modules, a plant breeding simulation, videos and quizzes. It is designed for a broad audience, from students and educators to researchers, agricultural professionals and anyone interested in food security, biodiversity and sustainable agriculture.

The consultant will identify effective, cost-efficient ways to reach these audiences and develop a practical strategy with measurable actions to increase awareness, encourage engagement and support the platform’s long-term use.

Apply now: https://tinyurl.com/4bjd9r3z

09/10/2026

Yesterday we welcomed our partners, donors and Executive Board members to the Crop Trust offices in Bonn for a reception titled “From the World, For the World: Crop Diversity,” held alongside our fall Board meeting.

The evening was an opportunity to connect, share our work and show how crop diversity links global efforts with local impact, bringing together not only countries and institutions, but also communities and people.

Harnessing crop diversity to build innovative and resilient food systems depends on strong international collaboration and partnerships. We are grateful to everyone who joined us and for their continued support in strengthening the global system that helps secure the future of food.

08/10/2026

Coffee brings us together every day, all around the world. But what if the coffee we love today couldn't thrive tomorrow? By conserving coffee’s crop diversity, we're protecting the possibilities for tomorrow. Together, we can keep coffee's future brewing.

Learn more and support via the link in the comments.

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Website

http://www.croptrust.org/

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