Today, more than ever before, our seeds are increasingly vulnerable to disease and a changing environment. This week on Down to Earth, we visit the world's largest seed bank for wild species and meet scientists and chefs on a quest to safeguard the UK's food security and heritage.
Humans are already relying on a very limited number of crops for the majority of what we eat. Of the 6,000 plant species that have been cultivated for food consumption, just nine of them account for two-thirds of what we produce. Any threat to them through disease or weather extremes means a threat to our food security. Which leaves us with two options: increase the variety of what we eat, or make our favourite crops stronger.
