DNA Vault Program
Around 40% of all known plant species are threatened with extinction (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 2020), while approximately 75% of undiscovered plant species are estimated to already be at risk (Kew, 2023). Yet, despite their extraordinary genetic diversity and potential, fewer than 1% of plant species have had their genomes sequenced (Bernal-Gallardo & de Folter, 2024), leaving the vast majority of their genetic heritage unexplored.
To respond to this global crisis, Luxigene is developing the DNA Vault Program — a long-term initiative dedicated to safeguarding the genetic heritage of rare and endangered plants. We already maintain a cryoconservation collection of over 30 rare and endangered plant species, safeguarding their unique genetic diversity for future generations.
Through international expeditions, beginning with our first planned mission to French Guiana in 2027, our team aims to collect living tissues and DNA from vulnerable ecosystems for sequencing, genetic analysis, and cryopreservation. By cultivating and studying these samples in our laboratories, we seek to characterize, understand, and preserve their unique genetic diversity — ensuring that even the most fragile forms of life can be studied, protected, and potentially restored for future generations.
To bring this vision to life, Luxigene plans to establish a research and development laboratory in French Guiana, at the heart of one of the world’s most biologically rich yet endangered ecosystems. This strategic presence will enable us to conduct field expeditions, conservation missions, and in situ collaborations with local experts, ensuring the ethical and scientifically rigorous exploration of plant biodiversity.
Each species we encounter will be studied in detail, with its DNA sequenced and its living tissues cryopreserved for long-term conservation. Once secured, the unique genetic traits revealed in these rare or previously unknown plants — from unusual colors and structures to natural resilience — will be analyzed and selectively integrated into future Luxigene creations, allowing us to bring entirely new botanical forms into cultivation for the first time.
Beyond the artistic and ornamental dimension, these expeditions hold great scientific importance: many rare or undiscovered species may possess extraordinary natural properties. For instance, fungi discovered in the Amazon rainforest have demonstrated the ability to completely degrade plastic, reminding us how much untapped potential nature still holds — and how much we risk losing forever.
Ultimately, this initiative will allow Luxigene to use art and innovation as a form of awareness, inspiring a deeper appreciation for the fragility and disappearance of plant life across our planet.