COP27 highlighted the role food and agriculture must play in finding solutions to the climate crisis, including the importance of genetic diversity to ensure food systems are resilient in the face of climate change. Over the last century we have lost hundreds of vegetable varieties, taking us nearer to monocultures detrimental to wildlife and vulnerable to climate and pest challenges. Put simply, the fewer varieties available, the fewer tools in our armour to produce food in a changing climate.

The more diversity we reintroduce into our food systems, including what’s grown at home, the greater our resilience to future pressures. Garden Organic’s Heritage Seed Library preserves and shares rare vegetable varieties, countering biodiversity decline and ensuring growers have access to the widest range of seed possible. As National Collection Holders, we conserve 800 varieties, sharing 30,000+ packets of seed each year. We want to protect even more varieties and support many more growers.