Even with Russian troops now driven back, the 150,000 seed samples which are hosted in Kharkiv’s gene bank are still at risk while the war rages
Save time by listening to our audio articles as you multitaskIt later emerged that only an outpost of the bank had suffered the shelling which caused this destruction. The main trove of seeds remains safe in an underground vault. But it may have been a close-run thing. The bank in question is in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second city, and that city’s defenders have only now repelled the Russian forces which were besieging it.
The purpose of gene banks is to archive crop biodiversity. Mostly, this is done by dehydrating and freezing seeds. The’s Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates that, over the 20th century, the diversity of planted crops shrank by 75% as commercial farmers concentrated their efforts on a few reliable varieties.
Though Kharkiv’s vault remains intact, the attack has sparked worries. Even with Russian troops now driven back, the 150,000 samples of 1,802 species representing 544 types of crop which it hosts are still at risk while the war rages. So are collections of crops such as strawberries and grapes that are propagated by cuttings rather than seeds, and are conserved by the bank in open fields.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ukraine war is Putin’s death warrant, says wife of jailed politicianVladimir Kara-Murza’s wife Evgenia says Russian president will fall over war in Ukraine
Read more »
Ukraine war is Putin’s death warrant, says wife of jailed politicianVladimir Kara-Murza’s wife Evgenia says Russian president will fall over war in Ukraine
Read more »
Millions warned of power cuts this winterMinisters delay closure of coal-fired generators over fear of gas shortages caused by Ukraine war
Read more »
Ukraine war: Eurovision trophy sold to buy drones for UkraineThe Ukrainian winners of this year's song contest, Kalush Orchestra, sell their trophy for $900,000.
Read more »
Russia could target Ukraine's doomsday supplies and trigger crisis for 'generations'AS RUSSIA targetted Ukraine's National Gene Bank of Plants last week, experts have warned Express.co.uk that the loss of such a vital research station could trigger a major food crisis.
Read more »
Russia-Ukraine war: situation in Luhansk ‘extremely escalated’ amid intense shelling by Russian troops – liveGovernor of Luhansk region says impossible to gauge extent of damage and casualties amid Russian onslaught
Read more »