Africa’s vegetable genebank makes record seed deposit in Svalbard Vault

AFRICA – Africa’s Vegetable Genebank has made its largest-ever deposit of traditional African vegetable seeds to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway, marking a major step in safeguarding the continent’s food diversity.

The deposit took place on Wednesday and included over 3,000 seed samples representing 109 crop species collected from more than 30 African countries, from Senegal to Kenya and Mali to Madagascar.

The consignment includes amaranth, jute mallow, Bambara groundnut, African eggplant, and okra, vegetables that can improve nutrition, strengthen local economies, and help communities adapt to climate change.

Many of these crops have vanished from farms, replaced by imported staples. Conserving them is a key focus of the African Union-endorsed African Vegetable Biodiversity Rescue Plan.

“This is much more than a deposit of seeds; it is a demonstration of our commitment to preserving Africa’s vegetable heritage,” said Dr. Sognigbe N’Danikou, head of Africa’s Vegetable Genebank and a scientist with the World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg).

“Each seed carries generations of farmer wisdom, adaptation, and cultural value. Backing them up in Svalbard lays a strong foundation for Africa’s food security and resilience – ensuring we can continue to nourish generations to come.”

The Arusha-based genebank, managed by WorldVeg, holds the largest collection of traditional African vegetables on the continent.

Its operations are supported by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), the Global Crop Diversity Trust, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) through the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

Strengthening future food systems

The new deposit means that more than half of the genebank’s 10,500 accessions are now backed up in the Svalbard Vault, securing them against climate threats, conflict, or disasters.

Professor Mary Abukutsa-Onyango, a long-time partner and advocate for African vegetables, described the milestone as a historic step for Africa.

“This is a fantastic moment for Africa’s Vegetable Genebank, and for the many diverse, delicious and nutritious traditional African vegetables it conserves and shares with farmers, schools and scientists,” she said.

“Having Africa’s vegetable diversity safeguarded in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault alongside the world’s major food crops sends a powerful message of hope about the strength of global partnerships to protect Africa’s nutrition and biodiversity for generations to come.”

Seeds in use across Africa

The seeds stored in Svalbard are not only conserved but also used in real-world programs. The genebank has distributed thousands of seed kits to farmers and researchers across Africa, including emergency supplies to farmers displaced by conflict in Sudan and seeds to schools and communities in Eswatini, Uganda, Kenya, Benin, and Somalia.

“Africa’s Vegetable Genebank is part of a living system of innovation, built on collections that are actively used as well as conserved,” said Daniel Frans van Gilst, Senior Agriculture Adviser at Norad.

“Its strength lies in both conserving biodiversity and putting it to work – enabling farmers and researchers to plant, study, and improve crops that build more resilient farms, healthier diets, and stronger livelihoods.”

Dr. Stefan Schmitz, Executive Director of the Crop Trust, added: “This deposit is a powerful reminder of how global cooperation can safeguard the foundations of our food systems. By backing up Africa’s vegetable diversity in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, WorldVeg and its partners are helping to ensure that these invaluable crops, so vital for nutrition, livelihoods and resilience, will be available for generations to come.”

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