Organic charity Garden Organic believes that 98 per cent of vegetable varieties have disappeared over the past century - and says EU regulations are speeding up the decline.

Garden Organic has stated in press reports that 95 per cent of vegetables come from just 20 plant species, and that traditional species from the UK and overseas are only set to fall further in number as EU regulations ban the sale of seeds unless the variety is registered on a national or EU list.

The situation threatens the diversity of our food, said the charity, and also threatens security of supplies.

Garden Organic runs a heritage seed library, and says it has saved 800 types of vegetable from extinction, including the Afghan purple carrot, Colonel Murphy beans and another bean called Ryder’s top o’the pole.

Bob Sherman, the director of gardens and gardening at Garden Organic, said: “The 800 endangered varieties in our living collection include all types of common vegetables such as tomatoes, carrots, beans, peas and onions - staple foods for millions of people around the world.

“And it's not just vegetable varieties we are losing but the local history, culture, tradition and skills that go with them. Once the varieties are extinct, we will never be able to get the seed or the heritage back,” he added. Garden Organic is urging members of the public to support the scheme by becoming seed guardians or “adopting” a vegetable for a year.

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