Millennium Seed Bank
The millennium seed bank partnership represents the largest and most ambitious ex situ plant conservation initiative in the world.
Millennium seed bank. The wellcome trust millennium seed bank building was designed by the firm stanton williams and opened by prince charles in 2000. Research laboratories and seed preparation facilities are situated above the vault. From 2005 paul smith took over as head of the msbp. Millennium seed bank seed list.
Today more than 20 of our plant species are faced with the threat of extinction. Important notes regarding the request of seeds. Millennium seed bank the wildflower center was the first non governmental organization to be invited to participate in the millennium seed bank partnership msbp a global plant conservation effort developed by the royal botanic garden kew united kingdom. The millennium seed bank project msbp is an international initiative co ordinated by the royal botanic gardens kew in the united kingdom.
We will normally only consider requests for up to 25 accessions. The millennium seed bank has the capacity to house 75 per cent of the worlds storable seeds and is currently home to over 23 billion seeds representing over 40000 different species. If you require more than this you should submit a written explanation and use a separate material supply agreement msa for each set of 25 accessions. It is funded from various sources including uk lottery money private sponsors and the uk government.
Millennium seed bank in light of the current coronavirus covid 19 outbreak we are sorry to inform you that the atrium in the millennium seed bank is closed until further notice. Millennium seed bank partnership msbp is an international ex situ plant conservation project aiming to collect and conserve seeds from 25 of the worlds orthodox plant species by 2020. Long life storage vaults were designed for this living library of over 300 million seeds along with laboratories a visitor centre residential and educational science facilities. The project collaborates with partner organisations across 50 countries including south africa.
With around one in five plant species estimated to be threatened with extinction worldwide seed banks are an effective means of preserving the worlds plants for the future. Genus species country tdwg region. Fill in at least one of the following fields. The msbp is a worldwide partnership aiming to save plants most at risk and most useful for the future.