Australia’s environmental restoration efforts are accelerating, but a critical constraint threatens their success: the national supply of native seed is not keeping pace with rapidly growing demand.
A Native Seed Supply Forum, held in Uralla, NSW from 27–29 May 2026, brought together 51 of Australia’s key government agencies, scientific experts, and native seed suppliers to address mounting risks to large‑scale restoration programs caused by seed shortages, long production timelines, and limited industry capacity.
“As government‑directed restoration initiatives expand — driven by carbon markets, biodiversity investment, and environmental repair programs — demand for native seed had increased sharply,” said Uralla’s BioBank Seed principal, Mr Benjamin Field.
“However, this growth had not been matched by coordinated planning or investment in seed supply systems, and native seed had emerged as a critical but largely overlooked bottleneck in restoration delivery,” he said
Unlike many commercial inputs, native seed cannot be purchased on demand.
Seed banks and collectors typically plan two or more years in advance, accounting for seasonal conditions, climate variability, species biology, and genetic requirements.
Without early engagement and long‑term coordination, restoration projects face delays, rising costs, or the risk of poor ecological outcomes.
The Native Seed Supply 2026 Forum catalysed strategic collaboration across sectors to support the development of a resilient, science‑led, and scalable native seed supply chain capable of meeting Australia’s long‑term restoration goals.
The forum focused on improving shared understanding of seed supply constraints, highlighted opportunities to strengthen national coordination, and identified pathways for better alignment between restoration planning, funding timelines, and seed production realities. It also strengthened relationships between government, scientists, and seed suppliers that were essential for future restoration success.
“A key challenge facing restoration programs is a persistent lack of awareness that seed availability fluctuates with season and climate, that seed banking operates on long planning cycles, and that genetic provenance and diversity are fundamental to long‑term restoration success,” said Ben.
“By bringing decision‑makers, scientists, and seed suppliers together, the Native Seed Supply 2026 Forum will ensure Australia’s growing environmental investments are supported by seed supply systems capable of delivering durable, high‑quality restoration outcomes at scale,” he said
This event was instigated by BioBank Seed, Uralla and strongly supported by Southern New England Landcare Ltd, Uralla Shire Council, ACEN Australia and the NSW Government.
Image: Andrew Gardiner, Operations Manager, BioBank Seed, processing native seed. Courtesy of BioBank Seed.
