This training programme is specifically designed to give library staff the practical knowledge and resources needed to establish and manage a successful seed bank.
This training is an opportunity to give your county’s librarians the skills, confidence and practical tools to establish a successful seed library from the outset. In just one day, participants gain the knowledge and structure that might otherwise take months of research, planning, trial and error to develop independently.
The training is practical and implementation-focused. Participants leave not only understanding how a community seed library works, but knowing how to set one up, manage it effectively and engage their local community. They also receive a complete, ready-to-use toolkit, enabling them to move quickly from training to delivery.
Importantly, the training is designed to build capacity within the library service itself. Rather than creating an ongoing reliance on external support, librarians are equipped to confidently operate and develop their seed library in a way that reflects their county’s own targets, partnerships and community priorities.
The benefits of that one day continue to grow over time. Each successful seed library can strengthen community participation, encourage seed saving and growing skills, increase access to locally adapted seed, and contribute to the conservation of crop biodiversity. A single day of training therefore provides the foundation for a practical community resource that can deliver value year after year.
Instructor for this training
Carimi Cortez Ribeiro is a biologist and plant scientist with a PhD focused on plant taxonomy, morphology, anatomy, and the evolution of angiosperms. With extensive experience studying and managing biodiversity through field expeditions and herbarium research, Carimi brings expertise in plant systematics and conservation. Currently serving as Curator and Gene Bank Manager at Irish Seed Savers Association, Carimi leads the conservation of Irish plant genetic resources, including seed bank collections and field collections of Ireland’s unique heritage apple trees.
