What We Do
The only institution dedicated to conserving the genus Vanilla.
Our Mission
The Vanilla Conservatory is a living genetic bank dedicated to the conservation of the genus Vanilla. We maintain rare and understudied species in active cultivation, generate cultivation and propagation data where none currently exists, preserve genetic material for future research, and serve as a resource for researchers and institutions working with material held in few or no other collections worldwide. Our mission is to build the conservation and research infrastructure this genus has lacked, before it is too late to do so.
Unlike other plants, Vanilla seeds cannot be banked. Every species depends on someone, somewhere, keeping a specimen alive and growing.
That's what we do.
William Thomas — Founder
I grew up in the south of France. Every few years my cousins from French Polynesia would visit with packages of Tahitian vanilla that my mother treated like gold; using them sparingly, only for the cakes that mattered. From that early fascination with such an exquisite perfume, I bought my first vanilla plant at eight years old. I still have it.
Later in life I had the chance to work in sciences and decided to put those skills at the service of this understudied genus. We take this exceptional plant for granted and yet beyond the single species you'll find in your ice cream, over 150 others exist with almost no data or conservation infrastructure.
The Vanilla Biodiversity Conservatory grew from that decision. It is the first conservatory dedicated to preserving this entire genus for future generations. This is a long-term stewardship commitment, keeping these plants alive, generating cultivation data where none exists, and ensuring they remain available to future generations.