As climate change accelerates biodiversity loss and threatens food security, South Korea is expanding an unusual form of protection, preserving the genetic resources of wild plants for the future. At the centre of this effort is the Baekdudaegan Global Seed Vault, operated by the Korea Arboreta and Gardens Institute (KoAGI). The underground facility in Bonghwa, North Gyeongsang Province, permanently stores wild plant seeds as insurance against natural disasters, environmental destruction and species extinction. KoAGI President Shim Sang-taek has outlined plans to strengthen international cooperation, conserve crop wild relatives and support countries particularly vulnerable to climate change. The vault currently holds around 290,000 seed accessions, including approximately 131,000 from outside Korea. Its growing international role reflects a changing approach to conservation, safeguarding biodiversity is not simply about protecting species today, but preserving genetic resources that could help future ecosystems and food systems withstand a hotter and increasingly unpredictable world.
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