Biodiversity for Opportunities, Livelihoods and Development
A 10-year project to strengthen food and nutrition security worldwide by supporting the conservation and use of crop diversity. Led by the Crop Trust, BOLD builds on the Crop Wild Relatives Project (2011–2021), which conserved and used the wild relatives of crops to help future-proof the world’s food supply.
Launched in 2021, BOLD is funded by the Government of Norway.
BOLD Project in Numbers
40+
genebanks receiving support to regenerate and back up key collections at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault
USD 58M
from the Government of Norway
52
partner countries
Biodiversity is crucial for sustainable food systems. This understanding is part of the reason for Norway’s establishment of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. We are pleased to support BOLD as it effectively translates conservation of crop diversity in genebanks into development outcomes related to food security.
What's Happened So Far
August 2023
May 2023
February 2023
January 2023
November 2022
Genebank Review: Sudan
Genebanks and Seed Systems Launch Workshop: Ecuador
October 2022
Genebank Review: Lao Peoples Democratic Republic
Genebank Review: Bhutan
Genebanks and Seed Systems Launch Workshop: Uganda
Genebanks and Seed Systems Launch Workshop: Bhutan
September 2022
USA Announces Contribution to Emergency Reserve for Genebanks
Genebank Review: Egypt
Genebank Review: Yemen (held in India)
August 2022
Genebank Review, Cuba
July 2022
June 2022
First 30 Svalbard Back-up Grants Announced
Crop Trust and Secretariat of the Plant Treaty Launch Emergency Reserve for Genebanks
May 2022
Genebank Review: Morocco
Genebank Review: Lebanon
April 2022
First Svalbard Back-up Grant Signed by the University of Cape Coast in Ghana
March 2022
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
Focus Areas
Capacity and Resource Development
Capacity and Resource Development: BOLD is working with 15 national genebanks in Africa, Asia and Latin America to strengthen their capacity to manage, document, conserve and back up the crop diversity that they hold. Read more
Making New Crop Diversity Available
Making New Crop Diversity Available: Building on the foundations laid by the pre-breeding and evaluation work done under the CWR Project, BOLD is continuing efforts to broaden the genetic base of seven key food and forage crops. Read more
Genebanks and Seed Systems
Genebanks and Seed Systems: The project is working with partners in Bhutan, Ecuador, Tanzania and Uganda to understand their seed systems and to use this knowledge to develop models of genebank engagement that other countries will be able to use and adapt. Read more
Safety Duplication at Svalbard Global Seed Vault
BOLD is providing technical and financial support to more than 30 partners around the world to help them regenerate seeds from their collections and to back them up both at another genebank and send them to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault for long-term safekeeping: Read more
Communications, Engagement and Outreach
Communications, Engagement and Outreach: BOLD is building a sustainable community of practice among partners to improve communication, outreach capacity and knowledge exchange. Read more