In the aftermath of widespread destruction across Gaza's agricultural landscape, local farmers are working to reconstruct a seed bank that was lost during the ongoing conflict, in an effort to preserve crop varieties that had been cultivated and adapted to the region over generations. The loss of such a repository represents more than a setback to local food security — it threatens the survival of heirloom strains of vegetables, grains, and legumes that are uniquely suited to Gaza's soil and climate and cannot be easily replaced by commercial alternatives. The rebuilding effort, driven by a small network of growers and agricultural volunteers, underscores how infrastructure for food sovereignty is among the most vulnerable targets in armed conflict, and how the recovery of biodiversity can become an act of resilience in itself.
Farmers are rebuilding a seed bank destroyed during Israel’s war on Gaza to preserve local crop varieties
