18/08/2026
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤 is a proposal to conserve not only endangered seeds, but also endangered cultures. When we lose a plant variety, we also lose its associated dishes, harvesting techniques, legends and ceremonies - biological and cultural diversity are inextricably linked. This project proposes to safeguard biological and cultural information together in the same place: the seed’s DNA.
DNA digital data storage is the process of encoding and decoding binary data into synthesised strands of DNA. Cultural artefacts can be converted into C, T, A, G code, then synthesised and inserted into a seed’s genome using CRISPR techniques. Each bio-cultural seed thus becomes a time capsule for future generations, carrying information not just about the seed’s “what” but also its “how.”
The biocultural seed bank is a response to the mass extinction of species. In the last 120 years, agricultural biodiversity has declined by 90%. Industrialised agricultural practices such as seed patenting and monocropping prioritise efficiency and profit over diversity, creating today’s biodiversity crisis. Seed banks are a counter-movement to the privatisation of the commons. By storing seeds in their multitudes of genetic variations, they preserve hope for a diverse future post-crisis. However, if the culture surrounding a seed is lost, how will future generations know how to cultivate it? Plants don’t thrive in isolation; they rely on specific climates, environments, and companion species; relationships that have been built over many years. Human communities are not just a threat but also a major companion for many plant varieties.
Establishing a biocultural seed bank imposes many questions. What constitutes a seed’s culture? Can culture be reduced to data? Which aspects of natureculture should be conserved, and who decides what is worth saving?
In collaboration with Sarah Fitterer, created during the MUSAE, Horizon Europe, S+T+ARTS residency. Music: David Diskin Wetter. Voice: John Diskin Wetter. The project has been funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement No 101070421.
