AgroPages-KWS gives $10,000 to maize and wheat germplasm bank-Agricultural news

German-based KWS has donated $10,000 to the Save a Seed online crowdfunding campaign to help the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) reach its $2.3 million goal to maintain the largest maize and wheat germplasm bank.

“The germplasm bank is a global public treasure that belongs to all of us; everyone should have the opportunity to help care for it,” Kevin Pixley, CIMMYT director of genetic resources said.

Along with KWS, African and Latin American seed producers and the general public have taken the opportunity to donate to the seed bank. Monetary contributions keep seed collections stocked, curated and freely available to maize and wheat seed researchers.

“I hope that many others will follow us to support the CIMMYT Save a Seed crowdfunding initiative generously,” Lacon Broers, a KWS executive board member, said. “Conserving and extending the world’s most important seed bank for maize and wheat is crucial especially for developing countries in times of accelerating climate change and growing world population.”

The bank will offer scientists novel DNA tools and data management tools to adapt to severe weather changes and evolving crop diseases which effect staple foods’ seeds. The CIMMYT germplasm houses over 175,000 maize and wheat seed collections that may one day hold the key for solving the problems of severe weather and crop diseases.