Seeds for survival - supplying seeds in an emergency

Natural disasters and war wreak havoc on the economies of developing countries. Since 1980, for example, all ten countries in the Greater Horn of Africa have experienced drought or armed conflict. In recent years, people have asked: what is the best form of aid in such situations? Emergency seed provision (ESP) has been developed as one of the answers to the problem in areas hit by drought, flood, hurricane and war. Research by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) aims to increase understanding of ESP to show how it can help improve food security and the genetic diversity of local crops.