Herbarium

Researcher in Herbarium setting holding plant specimens

Saving Plants from Extinction with Groundbreaking Technology


The Missouri Botanical Garden’s Herbarium Goes Digital to Revolutionize Species Identification


Leveraging cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technology to accelerate plant species identification, the Revolutionizing Species Identification (RSI) project is a transformative initiative to digitize the Missouri Botanical Garden’s extensive herbarium collection—work that will inform taxonomy and plant systematics, aiding restoration and conservation efforts worldwide.  

Herbaria are the world’s libraries of preserved plant specimens, providing fundamental information on plant diversity, distribution, geography, and ecology. This landmark initiative made possible by an anonymous $14.4 million grant—the largest to botany in recent years—will bring 6 million plant specimens online over the next 6 years, making critical data freely accessible to scientists, conservationists, and policymakers globally. 

By digitizing our collection and developing AI for rapid species identification, the Missouri Botanical Garden is helping safeguard biodiversity on a global scale.

-Dr. Peter Wyse Jackson, President

Dried herbarium plant specimen and computer with high-resolution digital scan

Advancing Conservation Through AI

AI technology will automatically detect unique plant characteristics to create an online reference library of plant features. Scientists will then be able to upload images and other data from an unidentified plant to a new project website for rapid automated species identification. This innovative project responds to the urgent global biodiversity crisis, where approximately one third of the world’s plants are endangered and need saving. 
 

An Unparalleled Resource for Unprecedented Times

RSI’s combination of visual scanning, hyperspectral imaging, and AI will create an unmatched biodiversity dataset of over eight million specimens. This dataset will enable rapid identification and analysis of plant traits, supporting targeted conservation efforts that prioritize species and habitats at risk. 

By partnering with cutting-edge technology, RSI will transform the role of herbaria in conservation science. This will inspire a new generation of plant science professionals who are needed now more than ever, as botany and plant taxonomy remain critically under-resourced.

40,000 plant species remain unidentified, with an estimated 77% likely threatened with extinction.

Researcher examining plant specimen through microscope

The RSI project will transform botany. Scientists will be able to rapidly identify plant specimens and be able to instantly use that information to advance species conservation and restoration of endangered plant species. 

The Garden hopes to expand the successes of this effort to other technologies, such as drones. Software could allow drones to automatically identify trees as they fly over a forest, allowing a user on the ground to quickly confirm if endangered species occur in the area.

This work could also provide the foundation for the discovery of plant species with properties similar to crops like coffee and cocoa—two globally loved crops that are potentially at risk of extinction.
 

"The research and technology in this project allow us to move faster than we ever have before when it comes to identifying species, and that means we can move faster in safeguarding biodiversity before it is too late."

-Dr. Gunter Fischer, Senior Vice President of Science & Conservation

 

Join the Revolution

Be part of the future of plant conservation by supporting the RSI project.

Donate Now

The RSI project directly supports the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity’s Global Strategy for Plant Conservation and aligns with the United Nations’ goal to conserve 30% of the Earth’s land and water by 2030. The Garden’s innovative approach leverages AI and hyperspectral technology to address the complexities of biodiversity loss and habitat destruction with speed, precision, and accessibility.

Funding for the RSI project would not have been possible without private philanthropy. Impact-driven philanthropists are advancing science in ways never seen before. The Missouri Botancial Garden is equipping the next generation of botanists and taxonomists with cutting-edge tools and training. This investment in emerging scientists expands expertise in historically underfunded fields. At the same time, it also ensures continuity and advancement in critical areas of plant science and conservation.

 

Media