For scientists researching plant genetics, evolution, and ecology, seed banks are a useful resource. The genetic data found in seed banks can be utilized to create novel plant varieties, increase agricultural yields, and address problems with sustainable agriculture and food security. Seed banks are important for science, but they are also important for culture. Several plant species are significant to human societies both historically and culturally, and protecting these plants aids in conserving cultural practices and knowledge.

Overall, by maintaining plant species and genetic variation for future generations, seed banks are essential to the conservation of biodiversity. In the twenty-first century, they are a crucial instrument for solving the problems of environmental deterioration, climate change, and food security. There are several seed banks in the world including The Millennium Seed Bank Partnership, Global Crop Diversity Trust, The International Centre for Agriculture Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), The National Centre for Genetic Resources Preservation (NCGRP), The Nordic Genetic Resource Centre (NordGen) which has been preserving seed for future generation.