Erna Bennett has died. She was a pioneer of plant genetic resources conservation. In fact, according to Pat Mooney, “it was this colourful, outspoken Ulster-born Irish revolutionary who first coined the phrase ‘genetic conservation’ and brought substance and strategy to the term for the world community”. You can get some idea of what she meant personally to workers in the field by reading the comments on the announcement of her death, and also on a previous post, on Danny’s blog. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution dedicated an issue to her on the occasion of the 80th birthday. Here’s what Jack Hawkes, another pioneer in the field who recently passed away, thought of her and the other handful of far-sighted people who we have to thank for today’s genebanks, and the treasures they hold.