While protected areas such as national parks exist to conserve various animal and plant species, very few have been set aside to protect wild plants from which our vital agricultural crops originate. Today, with fears of a global population explosion and rapid environmental changes, many scientists and observers view it as crucial to conserve the widest possible natural genetic base of our food crops.

Cary Fowler is Executive Director of the Global Crop Diversity Trust. They’re dedicated to conservation and crop diversity for global food security. The group has initiated what they call the world’s largest biological-rescue program. They work with numerous countries and institutions to rescue up to 100,000 unique varieties of agricultural crops.