Has the ability to preserve (3)
I believe the answer is:
can
This clue is a double definition.
'has the ability to' is the first definition.
(I've seen this before)
'preserve' is the second definition.
(canning is a kind of preserving)
(Other definitions for can that I've seen before include "Billy" , "sack from abroad" , "Possesses ability" , "has power" , "let go in the US" .)