RDA's seed vault preserves global vegetable genes

The Rural Development Administration (RDA) will next month mark the 18th anniversary of its Global Seed Vault's designation as Asia's first official preservation center for vegetable seeds from around the world. The designation followed a partnership agreement the agency signed with the Germany-based Global Crop Diversity Trust in 2008. The trust was jointly established in 2004 by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research for protection of the seeds. The RDA said Friday it will expand its services on safety duplication of the genetic sources of agricultural produces from around the world. The agency believes the efforts will contribute to strengthening Korea's agricultural cooperation with the international community. The Global Seed Vault in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, currently protects 336,872 types of vegetable seed from 12 national agencies in countries around the world, as well as Korean universities, local governments and research institutes. The World Vegetable Center in Taiwan stores more than 52,0