The state-of-the-art facility will securely store thousands of unique grain seed lines in a climate-controlled environment, preserving critical genetic resources for future generations and safeguarding Australia's food security.
The facility also includes three purpose-built plant pathology growth rooms, part funded by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), which will enable NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) scientists to accelerate research into disease resistance in key winter grain crops.
Together, the new facilities will support the development of grain varieties that are better equipped to withstand emerging pests, diseases and changing climatic conditions, helping to secure the future of Australian agriculture.
Seed vaults are important as they safeguard the world’s crop diversity, providing vital insurance against disasters, climate change, disease, conflict and human error.
By backing up seeds, they protect food security and ensure future generations can adapt agriculture and recover from major disruptions.
This new seed vault is also home to the NSW DPIRD rice germplasm collection, which holds almost 3000 accessions. This includes the first cultivars of rice bred and released by the department nearly 100 years ago.
The facility also holds wheat and barley germplasm, which is used for developing new sources of disease resistance, winter cereal mutant resources, and the DPIRD lupin germplasm collection.
The seed collections the department maintains form a rich library of plant genetics, allowing DPIRD scientists to conveniently deposit and check out varieties for current and future research.
The seed vault, which includes a dehumidified cool room, a long-term freezer room, and an insulated ante room, is named after George Hulbert, a long-serving former storeman at WWAI who worked from the building where the facility is housed.
