ICRISAT Director General Endorses 100-Year Global Seed Experiment
Media Release
In 2021, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and five national genebanks, in collaboration with the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway, committed to an ambitious century-long experiment aimed at assessing the seed longevity of 14 key crops.
Director General of ICRISAT, Dr Jacqueline d'Arros Hughes, recently participated in the latest seed submission for the 100-year experiment and signed the certificate that will accompany the study into the future, reaffirming the institute's commitment to global collaboration and innovation in the field of agricultural research.
“As the global food system faces increasing challenges, from climate change to population growth, this experiment will yield critical data for safeguarding the biodiversity of essential crops,” shared Dr Hughes. "The preservation of these seeds is a strategic investment in the future, ensuring food security and resilience for generations to come."
Over the next 100 years, the seeds will undergo viability testing every decade to assess how well they preserve under optimal storage conditions of -18°C. The goal is to determine how often seeds need to be regenerated to maintain their vitality and ensure their availability for future food security needs.
Among the 14 crops being studied, ICRISAT’s Genebank is contributing seeds from five key crops—sorghum, pearl millet, chickpea, groundnut, and pigeonpea—all of which are vital for food and nutritional security in semi-arid regions.
“The results from this century-long study will be transformative for global genebanks,” said Dr Kuldeep Singh, Head of ICRISAT’s Genebank. “Understanding the factors that affect seed viability over extended periods will greatly enhance our ability to manage seed collections and ensure the long-term availability of diverse crop varieties.”
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This work aligns with SDGs 2, 3 & 17.
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Tahira Carter