Foods / Tuesday, 09-Sep-2025

Seed bank ransacked as Sudan’s civil war destroys a critical resource in a starving nation

Seed bank ransacked as Sudan’s civil war destroys a critical resource in a starving nation

XLinkedInFacebookRedditBlueskyThreads
9043004777_cf5ec2af67_o

More than 100 universities have been damaged or destroyed, according to Mohamed Hassan, president of the Sudanese National Academy of Sciences, and the country’s scientific and academic infrastructure has been largely shut down as scientists have been forced to flee. The escalating violence is also threatening an irreplaceable scientific resource: the country’s seed bank has been ransacked, putting at risk more than 15,000 samples of the region’s plant life.

Follow the latest news and policy debates on sustainable agriculture, biomedicine, and other ‘disruptive’ innovations. Subscribe to our newsletter.

Carefully preserved in aluminum packets inside moisture-controlled deep freezers, the seeds held in the gene bank provide a backup of the region’s unique and diverse native plants – among them the likely ancestor of the watermelon, as well as varieties of sorghum, one of the most widely planted cereal crops.

In 2023, the Sudanese National Academy of Sciences called for solidarity from scientists around the world to help their colleagues at risk. The [International Science Couincil] has expressed deep concern over the “abhorrent impacts” of the conflict on civilians and its catastrophic effect on the country’s science system.

This is an excerpt. Read the original post here

combined disclaimer outlined@ x
donation plea outlined@ x
XLinkedInFacebookRedditBlueskyThreads
podcastsGLP Podcasts & Podcast VideosMore...
Video: Nuclear energy will destroy us? Global warming is an existential threat? Chemicals are massacring bees? Donate to the Green Industrial Complex!

Video: Nuclear energy will destroy us? Global warming is an existential threat? Chemicals are massacring bees? Donate to the Green Industrial Complex!

v facts and fallacies cameron and liza default featured image outlined

GLP podcast: Science journalism is a mess. Here’s how to fix it

Mosquito massacre: Can we safely tackle malaria with a CRISPR gene drive?

Mosquito massacre: Can we safely tackle malaria with a CRISPR gene drive?

dead bee desolate city

Are we facing an ‘Insect Apocalypse’ caused by ‘intensive, industrial’ farming and agricultural chemicals? The media say yes; Science says ‘no’

Infographic: Global regulatory and health research agencies on whether glyphosate causes cancer

Infographic: Global regulatory and health research agencies on whether glyphosate causes cancer

Does glyphosate—the world's most heavily-used herbicide—pose serious harm to humans? Is it carcinogenic? Those issues are of both legal and ...
science hand testtube x

Why is there controversy over GMO foods but not GMO drugs?

Genetic Literacy Project
international law x

How are GMOs labeled around the world?

Genetic Literacy Project
two types of breeding x

How does genetic engineering differ from conventional breeding?

Genetic Literacy Project
Screen Shot at AM

Alex Jones: Right-wing conspiracy theorist stokes fear of GMOs, pesticides to sell ‘health supplements’

T H LO

IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer): Glyphosate cancer determination challenged by world consensus

Most Popular

  • Viewpoint — Fact checking MAHA mythmakers: How wellness influencers and RFK, Jr. undermine American science and health

  • Viewpoint: Video — Big Solar is gobbling up productive agricultural land and hurting farmers yet providing little energy or sustainabilty gains

  • Fighting deforestation with CO2: Biotechnology breakthrough creates sustainable palm oil alternative for cosmetics

  • Trust issues: What happens when therapists use ChatGPT?

  • 30-year-old tomato line shows genetic resistance to devastating virus

  • California, Washington, Oregon forge immunization alliance to safeguard vaccine access against federal undermining

  • The free-range chicken dilemma: Better for birds, but with substantial costs

  • ‘You have to treat the brain first’: Rethinking chronic pain with Sanjay Gupta

Follow Us

Newsletter

Be the first to know about new products and promotions.

Subscribe with your email

Tranding

Tags

zolentz

Fresh, fast, and fun — all the entertainment you need in one place.

© Zolentz. All Rights Reserved. Designed by zolentz