Amman, July 10 (Petra)-- Ziad Al-Shakhanbah - National Seed Bank, operated by the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC), has preserved more than 5,000 seed accessions representing field crops, vegetables, medicinal and aromatic plants, rangeland and forest species, as well as wild relatives of cultivated crops, Acting Director General of NARC Zakaria Musalam said.

Speaking to the Jordan News Agency (Petra), Musalam said the bank also houses more than 4,400 documented specimens in the National Herbarium, the country's official scientific reference for documenting and conserving wild plant species. The collection includes a wide range of plants of significant environmental and economic value.

He explained that the genetic resources are conserved under a rigorous scientific system. Seeds are stored in specialized cold rooms at 4 C for short-term conservation and -18 C for long-term preservation, in accordance with internationally recognized standards. The system ensures seed viability and genetic purity while making the material available to support scientific research and the development of more productive and resilient crop varieties.

Responding to the needs of researchers and scientific institutions, the National Seed Bank fulfilled 272 requests in 2025 to provide local germplasm and wild plant genetic materials for applied agricultural research. These resources support efforts to advance the agricultural sector, strengthen food security, and safeguard Jordan's national genetic resources.

Musalam described the National Seed Bank as a cornerstone of Jordan's sustainable development strategy and a reflection of the Kingdom's commitment to protecting its plant genetic heritage in line with international best practices.

He said the bank serves as the scientific arm of the Ministry of Agriculture in the field of plant genetic resources and represents a specialized national infrastructure for their conservation and management. It plays a key role in protecting biodiversity, supporting scientific research, and providing the genetic resources needed to develop high-yielding crop varieties capable of adapting to climate change, in line with the Royal directives, the Economic Modernization Vision, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The bank's responsibilities extend beyond seed storage to include collecting, documenting, characterizing, evaluating, regenerating, and multiplying plant genetic resources, as well as conducting seed viability and germination tests and managing genetic databases.

Musalam added that the bank exchanges genetic materials with national and international universities and research institutions within legal frameworks and international agreements, promoting scientific cooperation, supporting plant breeding and genetic improvement programs, and contributing to the development of crop varieties that can better withstand environmental and climate-related challenges.

He noted that the bank carries out daily characterization, evaluation, and regeneration of plant genetic resources through its main field station and a network of research fields located at NARC stations across Jordan. These sites represent diverse agricultural and climatic conditions, enabling researchers to evaluate genetic resources under different production environments and use them in breeding programs to develop more productive, efficient, and climate-resilient varieties.

Musalam also said the National Seed Bank supports Jordan's commitments under the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture by conserving, documenting, evaluating, and making plant genetic resources available for scientific research and breeding programs within internationally recognized legal frameworks. This contributes to the sustainable use of these resources, strengthens food security, and preserves the Kingdom's plant genetic wealth for future generations.

He stressed that the National Seed Bank is one of Jordan's most important long-term investments in the future of agriculture. NARC continues to enhance the bank's technical capabilities, expand its genetic collections, and strengthen cooperation with national and international partners, helping drive agricultural innovation, improve scientific research, increase the agricultural sector's resilience to future challenges, and reinforce Jordan's position as a regional hub for the conservation and management of plant genetic resources.

Musalam concluded that the National Seed Bank's role extends far beyond preserving seeds. It serves as a fundamental pillar of sustainable development by protecting biodiversity, enhancing food security, supporting sustainable agricultural production, enabling researchers to develop crop varieties that can better withstand climate change and water scarcity, improving the efficient use of natural resources, strengthening the agricultural economy, enhancing the resilience of rural communities, and safeguarding Jordan's plant genetic heritage for future generations.

//Petra// MF

10/07/2026 13:46:27