Recent Advancements in Capacity, Curation, and Collection Security at the California Seed Bank and Aspirations for the Future

Over the past decade, the California Seed Bank has experienced significant growth, not only in the number of accessions and taxa within its collection but also in terms of collection curation and security improvements. This presentation will highlight some of these advancements, including relative humidity testing to improve storage conditions and expansion of the germination testing program. Additionally, major upgrades to power infrastructure have increased the security of these invaluable collections. Despite these advancements, several challenges remain. Fire security remains a pressing concern, especially given California’s increasing wildfire risks. Improving germination data sharing is also a priority, as greater collaboration and data accessibility would benefit conservation and research efforts. This presentation will share recent advancements, ongoing challenges, and aspirations for the future as we continue our work to preserve and protect California’s native plant diversity.