Norwegian Community Seed Bank

The Norwegian Community Seed Bank is a joint initiative of the Norwegian Genetic Resource Centre, the Royal Norwegian Society, private sector partners and associations. The objective is to promote the use of traditional varieties, including orphan crops, where it is economically viable to do so, and to facilitate efforts that these varieties once more can become commercially interesting. After consulting with various partners, the Norwegian Community Seed Bank was founded in 2018. It is owned by a newly established cooperative with funding provided by the Norwegian Agriculture Agency and technical support by the Norwegian Extension Service. The Norwegian Community Seed Bank institutionalizes the previous on-farm conservation work done by individual farmers and gardeners, thus reducing the dependence on idealistic individuals, particularly since some of the most knowledgeable and active farmers are approaching the age of retirement. It can further help to enhance restoration, regeneration and reintroduction of traditional varieties stored in collections, e.g. of universities, to create awareness among farmers and to increase their interest in engaging in seed production and use of traditional Norwegian varieties.