The National Seed Bank Of Jamaica

UWI Mona Campus - Site 1

In year three second semester, we were tasked with designing 'the architecture of food security', The National Seed Bank of Jamaica. A secure, resilient and interactive resource for the country to ensure its future ability to not just survive, but thrive as a nation. The main goal of the National Seed Bank is to enhance the country's food security by increasing awareness, knowledge, skills and resources. This effort aims to bolster Jamaica's ability to withstand the impacts of climate change and the anticipated worldwide challenges in food production and distribution.

The proposed site is located on the UWI Mona Campus and is bordered by aqueduct road to its west, Elsa Leo Rhynie road to its east and ring road to its south. The National Seed Bank of Jamaica aims to be a mixture of both preservationist and productivist seed bank.

Preservationist seed bank have the primary objective of safeguarding the genetic variety present in both wild and domestic plants. Their main emphasis is on maintaining the genetic diversity within plant species. These seed banks store seed samples for the purpose of research and breeding initiatives. Their main priority is to preserve seeds that are scarce, at risk of extinction, or possess distinct genetic traits. While the Productivist seed bank predominantly strive to support extensive agricultural output and commercial farming. Their main focus lies in furnishing seed specimens with significant capacity for high yields, resilience against pests and diseases, and suitability for growth with limited resources.

In addition to this, The National Seed Bank of Jamaica also serves as an educational facility. Its objective is to educate the general public through exhibitions and seminars, as well as bring awareness to more controlled and focus groups with the use of training labs.