Seed bank in Tel Amara

4,500 plant species will be preserved

The Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI), a governmental organization under the Ministry of Agriculture, established a seed bank in Tel Amara, Riak. The purpose of this seed bank is to gather seeds of plants originally grown in the region, and preserve them for future generations.

Seed banks protect species of plants, fruits, and vegetables from extinction due to changes in weather conditions, diseases, and natural disasters. Under the right conditions, seeds can be preserved for as long as 600 years and ensure the continuation of a region's biodiversity.

“Our target is to preserve the seeds of 4,500 plant species that are native to the region,” said Michel Frem, Head of the LARI.

The institute has been preserving seeds at the seed bank of the Royal Botanic Gardens in the UK since 1996. Up to last year, the institute has collected seeds from a total of some 1,400 species. “Now we are able to preserve our plant heritage in a local bank, which is the first bank of its kind in the region,” said Frem.

The LARI provided around $120,000 for equipping the bank with advanced machines, refrigeration units, and equipment imported from the UK. British companies won the tender for executing the project and provided local staff with the necessary knowhow for caring for the seeds.

Four employees at the seed bank are tasked with applying international standards in collecting seeds and preserving them.