What is the purpose of seed banks?

Seed banks serve as repositories for preserving seeds from various agricultural plants used by countries. Their primary purpose is to maintain genetic diversity and ensure the availability of seeds for future agricultural use in case of plant species loss due to disasters, disease, or climate change. Additionally, the Global Seed Vault acts as a secondary backup to these national seed banks, storing a vast variety of seeds in a secure and stable environment to safeguard agricultural heritage globally 1.