Amman, March 12 (Petra) -- The National Seed Bank has established itself as a cutting-edge facility for preserving vital plant genetic resources with both local and global significance, helping safeguard food security through world-class conservation methods.

King Abdullah II inaugurated the National Seed Bank in Ain Al-Basha district, Balqa Governorate, on Monday. The facility, operated by the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), aims to preserve plant genetic strains and enhance food security.

NARC Director General Khaled Abu Hammour told Jordan News Agency (Petra) that the inauguration represents a milestone that motivates researchers and staff toward greater achievement.

"Global crises have alerted countries to the importance of food security in maintaining stability and security," Abu Hammour explained, noting that King Abdullah highlighted this priority during the 2020 Borlaug Dialogue, where His Majesty identified post-pandemic priorities including advanced production, supply chain, storage technologies, and knowledge exchange.

The seed bank aligns with the Economic Modernization Vision, National Sustainable Agriculture Plan, and National Food Security Strategy, positioning NARC as a global leader in the field.

Abu Hammour cited international scientific reports indicating that two out of every five plant species worldwide face extinction due to ecosystem degradation and climate change impacts.

"The region and world face unprecedented challenges from COVID-19 economic fallout, climate change, population growth, increased food demand, malnutrition patterns, water scarcity, and energy demands all affecting food systems, supply chains, and global food security," he said.

The facility was designed to green building standards across 3,170 square meters, with 10 additional dunums allocated for services and seed multiplication.

The Hashemite University contributed JD3 million to launch the project, with the Ministry of Agriculture providing approximately JD3 million more to support the environment-friendly, solar-powered seed center.

The new facility represents a significant upgrade from the original seed bank established in 1993. Refrigeration space has expanded from 18 to 112 square meters, while storage capacity has increased from 5,000 to 50,000 seed samples.

The modernized bank maintains short-term storage at 4 C and introduces long-term cooling at -20 C, plus ultra-cold storage using liquid nitrogen at -196 C to maximize preservation efficiency.

The bank houses a herbarium containing 4,000 plant specimens, with the oldest dating back to 1886. The oldest wheat seed sample dates to 1927. Since its establishment in 1993, the bank has accumulated over 5,000 entries representing 88 plant families.

"Jordan is one of five Middle Eastern countries serving as a center for wild genetic origins of wheat, barley, and legumes, giving us responsibility to preserve these resources, which have importance beyond the local level to the global stage," Abu Hammour said.

A national library has been established to document and disseminate information about the bank according to the latest international standards, in full compliance with international agreements on genetic resource conservation and sustainable use.

A smart greenhouse equipped with cutting-edge technology will support agricultural research to characterize, evaluate, and multiply genetic resources related to food and agriculture, including seed germination for taxonomic purposes to ensure proper identification and documentation.

To enhance researcher capabilities, Abu Hammour noted that the bank has been equipped with modern training facilities and advanced laboratories for conducting research that contributes to improving agricultural crops and ensuring food security sustainability.

Thanks to these efforts, the bank's modern cooling methods can extend seed viability from 10 to 100 years for some plant species, ensuring the continuation and development of agricultural life for future generations.

//Petra// AA

12/03/2025 12:33:04