What's Happening?
The Crop Trust has launched a new initiative called Securing Our Seeds (SOS): Digital Innovation for Global Crop Diversity Conservation, with a $2 million contribution from Google.org’s AI Collaborative: Food Security. This project aims to modernize the
global genebank system, which is crucial for conserving crop diversity. The initiative will support ten national genebanks in the Global South to become smart data hubs by adopting the open-source GRIN-Global Community Edition (GGCE) genebank information management software and integrating these collections with Genesys, the world’s largest portal for sharing information on crop diversity. The project also focuses on strengthening digital skills within the global genebank system. Additionally, the SOS project will explore using artificial intelligence to identify and track threats to crop diversity, potentially developing an early warning system to prevent the loss of valuable agricultural biodiversity.
Why It's Important?
This initiative is significant as it addresses the critical issue of crop diversity loss, which is essential for global food security. By digitizing genebanks and improving data management, the project aims to make crop diversity more accessible to researchers, plant breeders, and farmers, thereby enhancing the ability to breed crops that can withstand climate change, pests, and diseases. The use of AI to monitor and respond to threats to crop diversity could revolutionize how genebanks operate, ensuring that valuable genetic resources are preserved and utilized effectively. This collaboration between the Crop Trust and Google.org highlights the potential of technology to address global challenges such as food insecurity and climate change.
What's Next?
The Crop Trust will continue to work on integrating AI and other technologies into the genebank system to improve the monitoring and conservation of crop diversity. The development of an early warning system for crop diversity loss is a key focus, which could lead to more proactive conservation efforts. As the project progresses, it is expected that more genebanks will adopt these digital tools, further strengthening the global network of crop conservation. The success of this initiative could serve as a model for other sectors looking to leverage technology for sustainable development.
