Kew Gardens has embarked on an extensive project to digitize its entire collection of 7.4 million plant and fungus specimens, creating a comprehensive digital archive intended to facilitate scientific research through artificial intelligence (AI). Over the past four years, a team of 40 staff members has meticulously photographed every specimen, some dating back nearly 300 years, including examples collected by Charles Darwin and soldiers during the First World War.

This digitization effort has enabled researchers worldwide to access and analyze the vast archive, which has already contributed to findings illustrating the impact of climate change on plant reproductive patterns. Notably, a research collaboration involving the Norwegian University of Science and Technology utilized AI trained on 200,000 images from Kew alongside millions of botanical specimens from other institutions. Their analysis showed that plants collected more recently are flowering earlier or later compared to older samples, shifting by an average of 2.5 days per decade, a change attributed to rising global temperatures.

Alexandre Antonelli, Kew’s executive director of science, described these developments as the start of a “digital biodiversity revolution.” He emphasized AI’s potential not only to track ecological changes but also to identify crop varieties that are more resilient to climate change and to pinpoint species at increased risk of extinction. For example, Kew’s archive has already accelerated efforts to find climate-resistant coffee varieties, and Antonelli expects similar advancements for a wide range of species as AI-assisted searching becomes more refined.

The digitization project revealed previously unknown aspects of Kew’s holdings, allowing more precise accounting of specimens and identification of species never documented before. In 2024 and 2025, scientists identified approximately 4,600 new plant species and 7,800 new fungi, a process historically reliant on experienced botanists but increasingly supported by AI’s enhanced ability to recognize plant features.

In addition to plants, Kew researchers are developing what they hope will become the world’s largest fungal genome database. Senior research leader Ester Gaya highlighted fungi’s role as “chemical factories” capable of producing substances for food breakdown and defense. This genomic resource could lead to innovations such as sustainable meat alternatives and biodegradable chemicals to address plastic waste.

Antonelli noted the global significance of the digitized archive, particularly for researchers in countries lacking extensive specimen collections. He cited his native Brazil, where scientists traditionally had to travel internationally to study native specimens. By democratizing access to data, the project aims to support global botanical research and conservation efforts.

Among the digitized material is a newly identified orchid species, illustrating the ongoing potential for discoveries within the digital archive. As technology and digitization continue to advance, Kew Gardens is positioning itself as a leader in leveraging AI to deepen understanding of plant biodiversity and address environmental challenges.