Svalbard: The Ark of Plants – 10 years of safe seed protection!

Svalbard: The Ark of Plants – 10 years of safe seed protection!

An impressive project has proven itself on the remote Norwegian island group of Svalbard: The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, known as the Arctic Noah's Ark, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. This impressive shelter, nestled in a frozen mountain, is now home to the seeds of more than a million plant species from 85 countries. Last week, 719 new varieties were delivered for safekeeping by Agroscope, the Swiss seed bank, like the Small newspaper reported.

Protection against crises and disasters

The Seed Vault not only serves as an archive, but also as a protective measure against the threats of climate change and conflict. NordGen's managing director, Lise Lykke Steffensen, explained that member banks from countries such as the Philippines and Sudan are particularly dependent on the security of their genetic resources. In these regions, which are suffering from various crises - be it due to civil wars or natural disasters - the need for such a safe storage facility is becoming increasingly urgent. In Sudan, many seed stocks have been destroyed as a result of armed conflict, while the Philippines is suffering from extreme weather conditions that have already destroyed many seeds, such as the Farmer's newspaper determines.

The seeds in the Vault are not only protected from physical threats, but thanks to the temperatures in the permafrost, they remain safely frozen even in the event of a power outage. This ensures the long-term preservation of the genetic heritage and diversity maintained through the work of farmers and researchers. Protecting and conserving this plant diversity is crucial for the future of global agriculture and nutrition.