How Does a Seed Bank Preserve Seeds?

Seed banks preserve crop and wild-plant genetic diversity against extinction, disease, and climate change. Seeds are first cleaned, then dried to about 3–7% moisture content in drying rooms kept at 15°C and 15% relative humidity. They are then sealed in airtight foil packets or glass jars and stored in freezers at around −18°C to −20°C. Under these conditions, most orthodox seeds remain viable for 100 to 200+ years. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway holds over 1.3 million seed samples from nearly every country, stored deep inside an Arctic mountain as a backup to national gene banks.