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35 images Created 7 Feb 2018

WORLD FOOD: Seed Banks

Seed banks around the world protect mankind's heritage of domesticated plants that provide our food. Images for National Geographic, including the Svalbard Global Seed Bank, and other agricultural seed banks the United States, Ethiopia, and the United Kingdom. Photographed by National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson.
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  • Carey Fowler at the "Doomsday" seed bank in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway.  Dug into the frozen mountainside above the town, the seedbank is a last chance repository for millions of seeds, that could be used to restore agriculture should a disaster wipe out many of the plants we depend upon for food.
    MM7753_20100311_0524.jpg
  • Seed Savers Exchange is one of the oldest and largest heirloom seed conservation organizations in the world. <br />
Since 1975, Seed Savers Exchange members have passed on approximately one million samples of rare garden seeds to other gardeners. The non-profit organization of gardeners is dedicated to saving and sharing heirloom seeds.
    MM7753_20100903_34175.jpg
  • The Ejere Farming Community Seed Bank in Ejere, Ethiopia was built by Ethio Organic Seed Action to help farmers regain traditional local varieties of grain that are better adapted to their location. Seed bank members donate seeds and in turn get seeds from the seed bank. Regassa Feyissa with EOSA is one of the founders and promoters of the seed bank and helps the local farmers. <br />
<br />
The germplasm reserve saves a wide variety of crops that may not be grown every year and acts as a safety net in case of crop failure. <br />
<br />
Farmers seen in the seed bank with Regassa are Taddesse Retta, chair of the Farmer Conservator Association and Eshetu Badada, the treasurer.
    MM7753_20101030_42477.jpg
  • Seed Savers Exchange is one of the oldest and largest heirloom seed conservation organizations in the world. <br />
Since 1975, Seed Savers Exchange members have passed on approximately one million samples of rare garden seeds to other gardeners. The non-profit organization of gardeners is dedicated to saving and sharing heirloom seeds.
    MM7753_20100904_35446.jpg
  • The National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation in Ft. Collins, Colorado is a major USDA facility for the preservation of crop biodiversity. Besides preserving seeds and crop material, including cryogenic sorage, they also test for viability and maintain a massive cold storage vault.<br />
<br />
Contact:
    MM7753_20100909_36981.jpg
  • The community seed bank (CSB) in Harbu which was built and sponsored by Ethio Organic Seed Action (EOSA) to help farmers regain traditional varieties of crops and have a safety net against loss of crops in times of drought and crop failure. <br />
<br />
Members of the seed bank contribute seeds and can use the seeds for their crops. Included in the seed bank is a germplasm reserve, where seeds are stored in jars as a further means of preserving greater crop diversity. <br />
<br />
Seen in the germplasm reserve are CSB members and farmers Ansha Seid (turquoise scarf) and Seid Shiferan (tan scarf) looking at the jars of seeds.
    47 of 63MM7753_20101102_45780.jpg
  • Seed bank at USDA-ARS North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station in Ames, Iowa.
    Ames Seed Bank.jpg
  • Inside the seed bank rooms at the USDA-ARS North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station in Ames, Iowa.<br />
<br />
Seeds are stored at low temperatures and low humidity to keep the viable for a longer time. The Ames facility focuses on corn, as well as sunflowers and other grains.
    MM7753_2010-08-06_32016.jpg
  • Sunflowers being grown out are kept in insect-prooof cages to prevent cross pollination, at the USDA-ARS North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station in Ames, Iowa.<br />
<br />
Each cage has it's own beehive so that the plants are properly pollinated. Seeds must be grown out periodically to keep them viable, one of the issues that makes proper maintenance of a seed bank difficult and expensive.
    MM7753_2010-08-06_31388.jpg
  • Sunflowers being grown out are kept in insect-prooof bags to prevent cross pollination, at the USDA-ARS North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station in Ames, Iowa.<br />
<br />
Seeds must be grown out periodically to keep them viable, one of the issues that makes proper maintenance of a seed bank difficult and expensive.
    MM7753_2010-08-06_31830.jpg
  • Carey Fowler at the "Doomsday" seed bank in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway.  Dug into the frozen mountainside above the town, the seedbank is a last chance repository for millions of seeds, that could be used to restore agriculture should a disaster wipe out many of the plants we depend upon for food.
    MM7753_20100311_0001.jpg
  • Cary Fowler at the Svalbard Global Seed Bank, also known as the "Doomsday" seed bank, in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway.  Dug into the frozen mountainside above the town, the seedbank is a last chance repository for millions of seeds, that could be used to restore agriculture should a disaster wipe out many of the plants we depend upon for food.
    MM7753_20100312_0667.jpg
  • Cary Fowler at the Svalbard Global Seed Bank, also known as the "Doomsday" seed bank, in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway.  Dug into the frozen mountainside above the town, the seedbank is a last chance repository for millions of seeds, that could be used to restore agriculture should a disaster wipe out many of the plants we depend upon for food.
    MM7753_20100312_0825.jpg
  • Cary Fowler at the Svalbard Global Seed Bank, also known as the "Doomsday" seed bank, in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway.  Dug into the frozen mountainside above the town, the seedbank is a last chance repository for millions of seeds, that could be used to restore agriculture should a disaster wipe out many of the plants we depend upon for food.
    MM7753_20100312_0788.jpg
  • Seed Savers Exchange is one of the oldest and largest heirloom seed conservation organizations in the world. <br />
Since 1975, Seed Savers Exchange members have passed on approximately one million samples of rare garden seeds to other gardeners. The non-profit organization of gardeners is dedicated to saving and sharing heirloom seeds.
    MM7753_20100903_34370.jpg
  • The National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation in Ft. Collins, Colorado is a major USDA facility for the preservation of crop biodiversity. Besides preserving seeds and crop material, including cryogenic sorage, they also test for viability and maintain a massive cold storage vault.<br />
<br />
Contact:
    MM7753_20100909_37254.jpg
  • Seed Savers Exchange is one of the oldest and largest heirloom seed conservation organizations in the world. <br />
Since 1975, Seed Savers Exchange members have passed on approximately one million samples of rare garden seeds to other gardeners. The non-profit organization of gardeners is dedicated to saving and sharing heirloom seeds.
    MM7753_20100904_34522.jpg
  • Seed Savers Exchange is one of the oldest and largest heirloom seed conservation organizations in the world. <br />
Since 1975, Seed Savers Exchange members have passed on approximately one million samples of rare garden seeds to other gardeners. The non-profit organization of gardeners is dedicated to saving and sharing heirloom seeds.
    MM7753_20100904_34552.jpg
  • The herbarium at the Royal Botanic Gardens contains thousands of plant samples collected over the last two centuries.<br />
<br />
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to simply as Kew Gardens, are 121 hectares[1] of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England.<br />
Kew Gardens originated in the exotic garden at Kew Park formed by Lord Capel John of Tewkesbury. It was enlarged and extended by Augusta, Dowager Princess of Wales, the widow of Frederick, Prince of Wales, for whom Sir William Chambers built several garden structures. One of these, the lofty Chinese pagoda built in 1761 still remains. George III enriched the gardens, aided by William Aiton and Sir Joseph Banks. The old Kew Park (by then renamed the White House), was demolished in 1802. The "Dutch House" adjoining was purchased by George III in 1781 as a nursery for the royal children. It is a plain brick structure now known as Kew Palace.
    MM7753_2010-07-24_12232.jpg
  • Packaging seeds for shipment to the Svalbard seed bank at the USDA-ARS North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station in Ames, Iowa.<br />
<br />
These shipments act as a backup in the event that seeds are lost at the primary storage facility.
    MM7753_2010-08-06_32054.jpg
  • Jamal Mohammed and his wife Tayitis Mohammed keep a personal seed bank in their house in the Fontanina area south of Kombulcha, Ethiopia. These seeds are their insurance against crop failure so that they can plant again should disaster strike. <br />
<br />
Having gone through the famine of 1984 they changed their farming methods, bringing back more of the tradtional varieties, but also holding on to larger reserves of food before selling their crops for cash.
    MM7753_20101102_45476.jpg
  • The Ejere Farming Community Seed Bank in Ejere, Ethiopia was built by Ethio Organic Seed Action to help farmers regain traditional local varieties of grain that are better adapted to their location. Seed bank members donate seeds and in turn get seeds from the seed bank. Regassa Feyissa with EOSA is one of the founders and promoters of the seed bank and helps the local farmers. <br />
<br />
The germplasm reserve saves a wide variety of crops that may not be grown every year and acts as a safety net in case of crop failure. <br />
<br />
Farmers seen in the seed bank with Regassa are Taddesse Retta, chair of the Farmer Conservator Association and Eshetu Badada, the treasurer.
    MM7753_20101030_42411.jpg
  • Local wheat varieties in test plants at the Ejere Farming Community Seed Bank in Ejere, Ethiopia. It was built by Ethio Organic Seed Action to help farmers regain traditional local varieties of grain that are better adapted to their location. Seed bank members donate seeds and in turn get seeds from the seed bank. Regassa Feyissa with EOSA is one of the founders and promoters of the seed bank and helps the local farmers. <br />
<br />
The big variety of wheat varieties are important to maintaining biodiversity in the crop and because of how different varieties respond to varying climate and weather patterns from year to year. <br />
<br />
Farmers seen in the seed bank with Regassa include Taddesse Retta, chair of the Farmer Conservator Association and Eshetu Badada, the treasurer.
    MM7753_20101030_42091.jpg
  • Seed from the Kew Millennium Seed Bank collection at Wakehurst, outside London in the UK.
    MM7753_2010-07-23_11745.jpg
  • The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, usually referred to simply as Kew Gardens, are 121 hectares[1] of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London, England.<br />
Kew Gardens originated in the exotic garden at Kew Park formed by Lord Capel John of Tewkesbury. It was enlarged and extended by Augusta, Dowager Princess of Wales, the widow of Frederick, Prince of Wales, for whom Sir William Chambers built several garden structures. One of these, the lofty Chinese pagoda built in 1761 still remains. George III enriched the gardens, aided by William Aiton and Sir Joseph Banks. The old Kew Park (by then renamed the White House), was demolished in 1802. The "Dutch House" adjoining was purchased by George III in 1781 as a nursery for the royal children. It is a plain brick structure now known as Kew Palace.
    MM7753_2010-07-24_12456.jpg
  • Repatriated potatoes in the warehouse at Pampallacta at the Parque de la Papa near Pisac, Peru.   Varieties shown are being "repatriated" from the seed bank at CIP in Lima, Peru, the international potato center. These varieties were collected from the surrounding area and kept at CIP, and are now being planted and grown by the people living in the potato park.
    MM7753 2010-05-27 2776.jpg
  • The Svalbard Global Seed Bank, also known as the "Doomsday" seed bank, in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway.  Dug into the frozen mountainside above the town, the seedbank is a last chance repository for millions of seeds, that could be used to restore agriculture should a disaster wipe out many of the plants we depend upon for food.
    Svalvard Pan I.jpg
  • Carey Fowler at the "Doomsday" seed bank in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway.  Dug into the frozen mountainside above the town, the seedbank is a last chance repository for millions of seeds, that could be used to restore agriculture should a disaster wipe out many of the plants we depend upon for food.
    MM7753_20100311_0269.jpg
  • Carey Fowler at the "Doomsday" seed bank in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway.  Dug into the frozen mountainside above the town, the seedbank is a last chance repository for millions of seeds, that could be used to restore agriculture should a disaster wipe out many of the plants we depend upon for food.
    MM7753_20100311_0010.jpg
  • Carey Fowler at the "Doomsday" seed bank in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway.  Dug into the frozen mountainside above the town, the seedbank is a last chance repository for millions of seeds, that could be used to restore agriculture should a disaster wipe out many of the plants we depend upon for food.
    MM7753_20100311_0585.jpg
  • Carey Fowler at the "Doomsday" seed bank in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway.  Dug into the frozen mountainside above the town, the seedbank is a last chance repository for millions of seeds, that could be used to restore agriculture should a disaster wipe out many of the plants we depend upon for food.
    MM7753_20100311_0516.jpg
  • Cary Fowler at the Svalbard Global Seed Bank, also known as the "Doomsday" seed bank, in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway.  Dug into the frozen mountainside above the town, the seedbank is a last chance repository for millions of seeds, that could be used to restore agriculture should a disaster wipe out many of the plants we depend upon for food. Giving a tour to a group of Norwegians.
    MM7753_20100313_1121.jpg
  • Testing for Ug99 wheat stem rust in the field station at Asella, Ethiopia.<br />
<br />
Kulumsa Research Centre, P. O. Box 489, Asella, Ethiopia  Wheat being tested for Ug99 wheat stem rust and other rust diseases at the Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center in Asela, Ethiopia. <br />
<br />
Ug99 is devastating to wheat, leaving the heads with nothing but small, shriveled grain in the otherwise normal looking heads. It was discovered first in Uganda in 1999 and has since been moving east, having recently been found in Yemen.<br />
<br />
The rust is seen as red patches along the stem of the wheat, hence the name.  <br />
<br />
KULUMSA AGRICUTURAL RESEARCH CENTER (KARC) is about 167 km southeast of Addis Ababa. It is located in the Oromiya Regional State in the northeast periphery of the town of Asela, Arsi Zone.
    MM7753_20101029_41501.jpg
  • Testing for Ug99 wheat stem rust in the field station at Asella, Ethiopia.<br />
<br />
Kulumsa Research Centre, P. O. Box 489, Asella, Ethiopia  Wheat being tested for Ug99 wheat stem rust and other rust diseases at the Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center in Asela, Ethiopia. <br />
<br />
Ug99 is devastating to wheat, leaving the heads with nothing but small, shriveled grain in the otherwise normal looking heads. It was discovered first in Uganda in 1999 and has since been moving east, having recently been found in Yemen.<br />
<br />
The rust is seen as red patches along the stem of the wheat, hence the name.  <br />
<br />
KULUMSA AGRICUTURAL RESEARCH CENTER (KARC) is about 167 km southeast of Addis Ababa. It is located in the Oromiya Regional State in the northeast periphery of the town of Asela, Arsi Zone.
    MM7753_20101029_41771.jpg
  • The Ejere Farming Community Seed Bank in Ejere, Ethiopia was built by Ethio Organic Seed Action to help farmers regain traditional local varieties of grain that are better adapted to their location. Seed bank members donate seeds and in turn get seeds from the seed bank. Regassa Feyissa with EOSA is one of the founders and promoters of the seed bank and helps the local farmers. <br />
<br />
The germplasm reserve saves a wide variety of crops that may not be grown every year and acts as a safety net in case of crop failure. <br />
<br />
Farmers seen in the seed bank with Regassa are Taddesse Retta, chair of the Farmer Conservator Association and Eshetu Badada, the treasurer.
    MM7753_20101030_42416.jpg