Discussing the viability of seed banks in emergency settings
Around the world, community seed banks (CSBs) play a vital role in helping communities to save and exchange local seeds, promote conservation of local seed biodiversity, support seed access and availability, as well as enhance local knowledge in seed quality control.
However, to date, there is a dearth of literature on the use and or potential role of CSBs in emergency contexts, typified by complex humanitarian challenges resulting from natural disasters and man-made shocks.
Prompted by the need to discuss this subject further, Mercy Corps, through ISSD Africa, hosted a virtual roundtable on the viability of seed banks in emergency settings.
This document provides a summary of the key discussion points from the roundtable, including suggestions for further discussion, research or evaluation.