Arusha, Tanzania - Tanzania is set to establish itself as a Seed Conservation Hub with the construction of a cutting-edge seed bank in Arusha. Housed within the World Vegetable Centre, the facility, constructed at a cost of 1.2 billion Tanzanian shillings (approximately $400,000), is designed to preserve genetic diversity for future generations. The modern facility, which includes a seed preparation and testing room, boasts the capacity to store seeds for up to 99 years. It is scheduled to become operational in February of the coming year. Dr. Gabriel Rugalema, the Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa at the World Vegetable Centre highlighted the significance of the facility, emphasizing that it will be one of its kind on the entire continent, solidifying Tanzania's position as a Seed Conservation Hub. The project received approval from Crop Trust, a global organization dedicated to building and supporting a worldwide network of genebanks for crop diversity conservation. Crop Trust inspectors visited the site in 2019 and, upon their return, expressed their satisfaction with the progress made. Currently, only 33% of African countries have reliable seed banks, making the establishment of the Arusha seed bank a crucial step toward preserving the genetic heritage of various plant species. Dr. Sognigbe N’Danikou, an expert in the field, emphasized the urgency of preserving African vegetable biodiversity, citing that 62% of selected African vegetables were poorly conserved. He stressed the importance of collaborative efforts and substantial investments in the conservation and sustainable use of African vegetable biodiversity. A recent training initiative, the 3rd Taiwan – Africa Vegetable Initiative (TAVI), convened more than 40 participants in person and attracted over 100 online attendees. The program aimed to enhance the skills and technical capacities of national genebank staff, researchers, and professionals involved in seed collection management. Training topics included germplasm classification, conservation, seed testing, inventory, distribution, data management, and genebank quality management systems, all geared toward promoting food and nutrition security. The establishment of the Arusha seed bank signifies Tanzania's commitment to preserving agricultural biodiversity, paving the way for advancements in sustainable farming practices and ensuring food security for future generations.