More than 100,000 seeds from across Africa have been deposited in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, the world’s repository for specimens intended to preserve crop diversity in the event of disaster.
The seeds, from 177 different species, were delivered to the Norwegian vault on Tuesday by Dr Éliane Ubalijoro, the chief executive of the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (Cifor-Icraf).
It is nutrient-rich and high in fibre, potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium, zinc and vitamin C. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and its leaves are used to treat kidney and bladder diseases, asthma, diarrhoea and insect bites.
Seeds of 177 species from across Africa to be stored in Norway to preserve crop diversity in case of disaster.
It was also important to nurture environments where native trees could thrive, Ubalijoro said.
