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From cutting-edge research to work saving seeds in communities, even our small actions can have a big impact on saving crop diversity and putting it to good use. Read the latest news highlighting these efforts and more.
Latest Article
Paula Bramel: Research Mentor Who Transformed Crop Diversity Institutions
In this edition of our Seed Heroes series, we pay tribute to U.S. scientist Paula Bramel, whose research, mentorship and leadership have been instrumental in building organizations and nurturing the next generation of agriculture...
4 Sep 2025
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Rethinking Global Food Systems
At the GLF Bonn 2020 digital conference on food in the time of crises, Crop Trust Executive Director Stefan Schmitz gave an inspirational talk about the importance of crop diversity and the need for us to rethink our food systems....
5 Jun 2020
5 Jun 2020
Greenpass Puts Germplasm Distribution in the Fast Lane
The crop diversity in CGIAR's international genebanks continues to be in great demand. That's music to the ears of genebank managers, who naturally want to see their carefully conserved collections put to good use. But it also...
2 Jun 2020
2 Jun 2020
Using Crop Diversity To Fight Hidden Hunger
Taking stock on World Hunger Day, more than 820 million people around the world do not have enough to eat. The vast majority of these people live in developing countries. According to the Hunger Project, half of the world’s hungry...
27 May 2020
27 May 2020
Why an Equitable Food System Depends on Diversity
Stefan Schmitz | Executive Director
Banner photo: CIAT/Stephanie Malyon
Many of us take eating three nutritious meals each day for granted. The reality is that, for many others, such bounty is unattainable. A new report has...
25 May 2020
25 May 2020
Big, Dynamic, and Complicated: Celebrating International Day for Biological Diversity
Luigi Guarino | Director of Science
Today is International Day for Biological Diversity, and the theme this year is “Our solutions are in nature.” That’s easy enough to say, and of course very topical, not to mention sounding...
22 May 2020
22 May 2020
Cowpea: How to Make a Hardy Crop Even Tougher
The cowpea keeps millions of people fed every day—but with the climate crisis threatening production, scientists are finding ways to increase its yields and hardiness.
“The cowpea has nourished people for many centuries,” said Ou...
19 May 2020
19 May 2020
International Hummus Day: Celebrating the Chickpea
The casual foodie might know a few fun facts about the chickpea. It’s a core ingredient in hummus, yes. It’s stuffed with protein, healthy fibers, vitamins and antioxidants, sure. It’s a versatile, nutritious ingredient that can...
13 May 2020
13 May 2020
From Orchard to Oven: the not-so-American Apple Pie
Ever heard the saying "as American as apple pie"? What about "for mom and apple pie," the proclamation made by many American soldiers shipping overseas during WWII? Over the last century, American patriotism and apple pie have...
12 May 2020
12 May 2020
2019 Annual Report
Letter from the Executive Director
"The importance of the global family of genebanks as fail-safes for our planet’s future food supply has never been so apparent."
Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting the Svalbard Global...
4 May 2020
4 May 2020
Svalbard, A Day in the Life
Polar Bears, Choirs and Camaraderie
Touching base with Åsmund Asdal, Seed Vault Coordinator, NordGen
Coronavirus SARD-CoV-2 (COVID-19) continues to significantly impact so many of us around the world. With countries on...
1 May 2020
1 May 2020
Climate-proofing Our Foods With Crop Wild Relatives
This year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Climate change represents the biggest challenge to the future of humanity and to our foods. Although farmers have been adapting crops for thousands of years through the...
22 Apr 2020
22 Apr 2020
Cryopreservation and the Future of Plant Conservation
It might come as a surprise that there are many crops that can’t be conserved in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Aside from today’s star the banana, these include favorites like: cacao, cassava, coffee, potato, sweetpotato,...
15 Apr 2020
15 Apr 2020