An open seed-data resource
About SeedPOD
SeedPOD is designed to make detailed data about wild seed collections easier to find, compare, cite and use in ecological restoration, conservation and research.
Why it exists
Turning dispersed records into usable evidence
Restoration practitioners may struggle to locate suitable native seed and the evidence needed to judge its source and quality. At the same time, custodians often hold valuable collection and germination records in systems that were not designed for cross-organisation discovery.
SeedPOD brings permitted records into a common structure. Its purpose is to improve discovery and knowledge exchange while keeping each record connected to its data partner, original plant name, source collection and applicable conditions of use.
A shared platform
Who SeedPOD is for
- Restoration practitioners – identify potential seed sources and assess collection, provenance and testing information before making site-specific decisions.
- Researchers – discover citable collection and germination evidence, subject to licence terms and record-level restrictions.
- Seed custodians and suppliers – increase responsible visibility of collections, retain attribution and direct enquiries through their own material-supply process.
- Conservation planners – examine gaps in species, geography, collections and germination knowledge when setting priorities.
- Seed-bank practitioners – compare documented practices and connect records with technical guidance and standards.
- Data partners – share agreed fields through a governed workflow with quality checks, partner review and options for sensitive data.
Comparable without erasing provenance
Data structure and plant names
SeedPOD links plant identification, wild or cultivated source, banking, availability and test information. Scientific names are standardised against Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP), while original names are retained so users can search historic or partner-supplied names and understand how a match was made.
About WCVP on Plants of the World Online (opens in a new tab)
What standardisation does not mean
A standardised name does not replace the data partner’s identification evidence, remove uncertainty or imply that every record has been independently re-identified by Kew. Check the identification and verification fields shown with the record.
Set expectations early
What SeedPOD can and cannot do
SeedPOD can help
- Discover participating custodians and represented collections.
- Review documented provenance, banking and test information.
- Compare fields in a standard structure.
- Find the relevant route for an enquiry.
- Identify evidence and supply gaps.
SeedPOD cannot guarantee
- Current stock or a minimum quantity.
- Suitability for a particular site.
- Permission to use or transfer material.
- Absence of biosecurity controls.
- Approval by the custodian.
See native seed supply for why suitable seed is difficult to secure at scale, and what to prepare before contacting a custodian.
Open where possible, protected where necessary
Responsible data sharing
SeedPOD is intended to increase access to useful seed data without overriding legal, ethical or data-partner responsibilities. Sensitive locality information, culturally sensitive knowledge, threatened taxa and records affected by agreements or access and benefit-sharing requirements may be withheld, generalised or restricted.
Frequently asked questions
About the platform
What is SeedPOD?
SeedPOD is the Seed Portal for Online Data: an open digital resource designed to improve discovery and responsible use of detailed wild seed collection, banking, availability, germination and viability data.
Who is developing SeedPOD?
SeedPOD is being developed by the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, with data intended to come from participating seed custodians.
Is SeedPOD already live?
The platform was soft launched in October 2026 and continues to be in active development. Content and functions may change in the future.
What data will I find?
Planned areas include plant names and identification, wild and cultivated source data, seed banking, availability, germination results and test steps, and embryo stain tests. Record coverage will depend on participating data partners and their permissions.
Using data and requesting seed
Does a SeedPOD record mean seed is available?
No. Availability can change, and a record is not a stock guarantee or offer of supply. Contact the named custodian and follow its current enquiry and material-transfer process.
Can SeedPOD tell me which seed is suitable for my restoration site?
SeedPOD can provide evidence about collections and tests, but it cannot make a site-specific provenance, legal, biosecurity or restoration decision. Use local expertise, standards and the relevant authorities.
How do I request seed material?
Start with the record or custodian details and read the seed supply guidance. Any request is assessed by the custodian and may require permits, agreements, costs or other conditions.
Can I use SeedPOD data commercially?
Not under the standard non-commercial licence. Read the SeedPOD Terms of Use and contact the team before any commercial use.
Why are some fields or locations hidden?
Data may be generalised or withheld to protect sensitive taxa, respect partner agreements, comply with law, or address ethical and access and benefit-sharing responsibilities.
Data partners, names and corrections
How are plant names handled?
Names are aligned to the World Checklist of Vascular Plants for discovery and comparison. Original data-partner names are retained for traceability. Users should still review identification and verification information.
How can my organisation share data?
Review Become a data partner, then contact the team to discuss scope, permissions, attribution, restrictions and quality checks.
How do I report an error or request a takedown?
Email seedpod@kew.org with the record link or identifier, the issue and supporting evidence. Rights holders and data partners can use the same route for restriction or takedown requests.
How do I report an accessibility problem?
Describe the page, task, browser or assistive technology and the barrier encountered using the contact guidance below. Do not include sensitive personal information.
Email the team
seedpod@kew.org
Include a clear subject and the relevant record, organisation or page link. This helps the team direct your enquiry. SeedPOD does not centrally own every collection shown – where a record identifies a custodian, follow that organisation’s own enquiry process; see the seed supply guidance first.
- Data partner enquiry – organisation, data scope, permissions, attribution or update arrangements.
- Record correction or takedown – record identifier, current value, proposed correction, evidence and your relationship to the record.
- Data use or permissions – intended purpose, fields, scale, output and why the standard terms do not meet the need.
- Accessibility problem – page, task, barrier, browser and assistive technology, plus an accessible way for us to respond.
Do not email passwords, unpublished precise locations for sensitive species, permit documents containing personal identifiers or other confidential material unless the team has agreed a secure transfer route.