One of the latest trends in survival gear and disaster preparedness is maintaining a survival seed bank. While this term is somewhat unheard of, it is sure to gain popularity over the coming months.

Already, there are many manufacturers who advertise these seed banks as a way to supplement your home emergency and disaster survival items in the event of a catastrophic emergency.

Emergency seed banks contain thousands of non-hybrid seeds in many varieties and species. These seeds are usually packaged in high quality metallic bags and in a long lasting desiccant. The entire packaging is housed in a vault that is made to withstand water and damage.

Non-hybrid seeds are selected for their high nutritional value and hardiness. In addition to their sturdy heirloom quality, the seeds are open pollinated, allowing for harvesting of more seeds for the next years crop. Genetically modified seeds usually cannot be harvested for a second or third crop.

While the notion of storing a survival seed bank may seem a bit paranoid, scientist have been doing the very same thing for about a decade with the Millennium Seed Bank Project. Maintaining seeds in the event of a disaster is not only reason for storing heirloom varieties.

In 2002 the soy plant industry was in danger of a catastrophic disaster because of the destructive Cyst Nematode. A Russian seed bank in St. Petersburg was able to provide soy bean seeds resistant to the Nematode and thereby saving the soy industry.

As of 2009, there are dozens of countries that maintain seed banks containing extinct and non-extinct heirloom variety seeds to preserve the food supply.