Underground armored room from the Millennium Seed Bank (MSB), at 20 degrees below zero, a treasure formed by the seeds of 40,000 wild plants around the world, many of them are in danger extinction.

He The Millennium Seed Bank running a race trial time because according to scientists, two of five species vegetables on the planet run the risk disappear.

The center is located in the heart of the English countryside, about 55 kilometers to south londonIs he the world’s largest seed bank.

According to the opinion of biologists david attenborougha well-known figure in the UK, MSB is “a possible conservation initiative more important ever done.”

“The goal is to preserve wild species through seeds, for prevent them from extinction in the long run,” he explained john dickieresponsible for the project.

This 70 year old researcher has been involved in MSB ever since creation in the late 1990s.

It was inaugurated on 2000 to celebrate the millennium and enter wakehurstbranch of Botanical Garden Londoners from Kew Gardens.

Here are kept a few 2.5 billion seeds. They come in all shapes, colors and sizes. Owned by 40,020 different species and originate 190 countries. represent almost – and only – 20% world flora.

Priority is given to endangered plantsespecially for climate change. but also plants endemicthat can only be found in certain geographic areas.

Plants are beneficial to society from the point of view medical or economics they also found a place in Wakehurst.

“Types of vegetables are threatened for many reasons (…), but mainly because of change land use for agriculture and, increasingly, climate change,” explained Dickie.

“Some plants will adaptanother NO“, but “at least they’d be here, wouldn’t they disappear at all,” he added.

Every week Wakehurst accepts new seeds and the save process starts.

“Our conservation of wild species is based on technology already used for cultivated species,” Dickie explained. “Not complicated: dried, cleaned and frozen“.

Once frozen, the seeds can be stored decadesPossible centuryconvincing.

Your team is working in public view in his glass-enclosed laboratory in Wakehurst. There are some 20 researchers and several volunteers.

Lucy Taylor treats seeds of Albizia polyphylla, native of Madagascar.

“Madagascar is a very interesting place for biologists because it has a unique plant, because the island is separated from Africa. Also, there’s a lot of pressure on the soil” from farming, he explained.

Patiently, separate the seeds in worse condition than the others: “many were empty or full of insects or disease (…), but we would best possible collection and we don’t have a lot of room in our cameras.”

To detect disease, seeds are subjected X-ray.

Each has its own identity card, with its own name, country of origin and date arrival at MSB.

save in glass jar before frozen in the basement, built to withstand flooding, bombardment, and radiation.

The temperature is -20ºC. The scientists entered them dressed as if they were working in a polar base.

The largest collection of seeds according to the family orchid.

there are also plants rareAs the smallest water lily in the world or Deschampsia Antarctica, also known as Antarctic hair grass, any of the two flowering plants native to South Pole.

MSB, which receives public funds and donations, cooperate with 90 countries.

Some, such as Indonesian, refuse to share their seeds with this agencybut they keep it in their territory.

Others, however, seem out of reach: one of Dickie’s few regrets is has no exchange with Iran.