This is how the Ukrainian Seeds Were Saved
Wheat field. (Photo: Britta Skagerfalt / Crop Trust)
29 August 2023
Earlier this year, a secret operation involving scientists and technicians successfully moved a collection of 51,004 Ukrainian seed varieties from Kharkiv to a safer location within the country amid the ongoing conflict. This year-long effort aimed to preserve the agricultural biodiversity of Ukraine, known as Europe's breadbasket, by safeguarding wheat, barley, peas, chickpeas, fodder, and sunflower varieties. The collection is crucial for the development of crops resilient to climate change and ensuring global food security. Now secured, the focus has shifted to multiplying and preserving these varieties, and eventually conserving them in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault.