The importance of Genebanks and Global Safety Back-up measures – from the Arctic Circle to the Deserts of Syria

Lise Lykke Steffensen
Department for Biosystems and Technologies, Swedish Agricultural University

Genebanks play a vital role in safeguarding the plant genetic diversity that underpins global food security, sustainable agriculture, and future crop development. This presentation highlights why conserving plant genetic resources is essential in a world facing climate change, emerging pests and diseases, and rapidly shifting production systems. It introduces the core work of local genebanks—from acquiring, characterizing, and regenerating seeds to ensuring their long-term preservation and accessibility for research, breeding, and innovation. A key focus will be on how these resources are used: from breeding climate-resilient varieties to supporting biodiversity, enabling scientific discovery, and strengthening resilience in farming systems worldwide. The talk also summarises recent developments in genebank management and international conservation efforts. Finally, the presentation explores the unique role of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault as the world’s ultimate safety backup. It explains why the Vault was established, how it operates in partnership with genebanks around the globe, and why this dual-level system—local conservation supported by a secure global backup—is essential for safeguarding tomorrow’s crops.