Seed bank design: cold rooms for seed storage

Orthodox seed collections should be maintained at cool temperatures, once they have been dried and packaged. Seed longevity increases as temperature is lowered (storage life approximately doubles for each 5 oC reduction in storage temperature). Taking into account seed longevity, cost, safety and other factors, the Millennium Seed Bank (MSB) recommends a seed storage temperature of about -20 C. This information sheet provides advice on designing a -20 °C cold room.