The newest Crop Wild Relatives (CWR) video is live, highlighting the importance of collecting and capacity building!

Crop wild relatives are crucial to future food security, but they first have to first be collected from the wild before they can be used in breeding. This video describes the time-consuming process of collecting and highlights how the Global Crop Diversity Trust and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in partnership with national and international genebanks around the world help build capacity and facilitate this work.

Collecting not only requires perseverance and determination in the field but also planning before hand. For example, prior to collecting, permits have to be obtained and localities of populations identified. Once found, collectors may need to visit the site several times to ensure that enough plants are flowering and the seeds are of high enough quality for collection. This video aims to highlight the importance of each step and showcase how the rugged traits found in these wild species will help improve the foods found on our plates.