Seed banks
A seed bank should begin with what it needs to make possible.
We don't begin by selling infrastructure. We first determine the on-country purpose, likely users, species priorities, restoration needs and long-term operational capacity.
The process
Designed from the outside in.
Purpose & Country
Clarify what landscapes, communities, cultural priorities and restoration needs the seed bank will support.
Seed & Collection Landscape
Identify priority species, seasonal timing, likely collection zones, provenance requirements and existing knowledge.
People & Governance
Determine who holds authority, who manages collections, who collects, who accesses seed and how decisions are recorded.
Processing & Storage
Assess cleaning requirements, equipment, containers, environmental controls, pest risks, viability monitoring and workflow.
Propagation & Use
Connect collections to nursery propagation, direct seeding, fire recovery, restoration, conservation and possible enterprise.
Facilities & Implementation
Develop a realistic staged plan for facilities, equipment, training, operating procedures, budgets and growth.
The result may be a modest community seed store, a working collection and processing facility, a regional conservation collection or a larger seed supply hub. The right model is the one that can be maintained, used and carried forward by the people responsible for it.
Discuss your seed bank