Ensuring that the genetic diversity of the world’s food crops is preserved for future generations is an important contribution toward the reduction of hunger and poverty in developing countries. This is where the greatest plant diversity originates and where the need for food security and the further development of agriculture is most urgent.
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, which is established in the permafrost in the mountains of Svalbard, is designed to store duplicates of seeds from seed collections around the globe. Many of these collections are in developing countries. If seeds are lost, e.g. as a result of natural disasters, war or simply a lack of resources, the seed collections may be reestablished using seeds from Svalbard.
The loss of biological diversity is currently one of the greatest challenges facing the environment and sustainable development. The diversity of food crops is under constant pressure. The consequence could be an irreversible loss of the opportunity to grow crops adapted to climate change, new plant diseases and the needs of an expanding population.
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Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Supplementary work has started
Svalbard Global Seed Vault: "When spring arrived in Svalbard, it was apparent that the permafrost had not had time, between the completion of the construction of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault and the end of winter, to re-freeze the loose soil and rock that had been replaced around the entrance to the Seed Vault. The result was that the tubing lining the first five to six meters of the tunnel, closest to the entrance door, was damaged. (26.08.2008) |
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Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Visitors from The U.S.A.
Svalbard Global Seed Vault: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food will today play host to a number of American politicians, climate experts and representatives from the business community. The group includes former President Jimmy Carter, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, former Senator Tom Daschle, CNN boss Ted Turner and Google founder Larry Page. (11.07.2008) |
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Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Huge interest
Svalbard Global Seed Vault: There is huge interest in visiting the global seed vault on Svalbard. Jimmy Carter, George Soros and Ted Turner are amongst those who will visit the vault this summer. There are heavy restrictions on access to the vault. (20.06.2008)
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From safety in permafrost to optimal conditions
Svalbard Global Seed Vault: During their last visit to the Seed Vault staff from the Nordic Genetic Resource Centre (NordGen) moved the Nordic countries’ safety seed collection from a mine to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. (20.05.2008)
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Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Summary of the Svalbard Conference
The Conference “Svalbard Global Seed Vault - Saving Seeds for Eternity?” included as speakers representatives from a range of organizations and areas of expertise that contributed to the development of the Seed Vault. Read more in the summary of the conference. (27.03.2008) |
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Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Genetic resources in storage
Svalbard Global Seedvault: There is broad agreement amongst experts that access to variety and genetic diversity in plants is essential in a future of great climatic challenges. Diversity is perhaps the most valuable natural resource we are in possession of, says Terje Riis-Johansen The Norwegian Minister of Agriculture and Food in a new feature article. (26.03.2008)
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Seed Vault Advisory Council Holds first meeting in Svalbard
Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Looking toward the future, the newly appointed International Advisory Council held its first meeting within hours of the official opening of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. (28.02.2008)
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Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Has begun its operation
Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Within hours of the conclusion of the official opening ceremony of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, the Vault was already in business. (28.02.2008)
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Arctic Seed Vault Opens Doors for 100 Million Seeds
Svalbard Global Seed Vault: At the opening ceremony today, the Prime Minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg, unlocked the vault, and together with the African Nobel Peace Prize-winning environmentalist Wangari Maathai he placed the first seeds in the vault. (26.02.2008)
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Norway contributes to plant breeding in developing countries
From 2009 Norway is going to give an annual contribution to the International Treaty’s benefit-sharing fund for financing plant breeding in developing countries and challenge other OECD-members to contribute likewise. If all the challenged countries accept, the fund can get some 200 million dollars during a ten year period. (25.02.2008) |
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Svalbard Global Seed Vault: The seeds are on their way
Svalbard Global Seed Vault: The Svalbard Global Seed Vault will open on 26 February. The facility will house seed samples of food plants from absolutely the entire world. And the seeds are on their way, from Colombia, Mexico, Canada, the Philippines, Syria, Nigeria, Pakistan, Kenya and many other countries. (08.02.2008) |
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Svalbard Global Seed Vault: The art is in place
Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Dyveke Sanne’s spectacular artwork is now in place at the entrance to Svalbard Global Seed Vault. The art will identify the building from a distance, in both daylight and darkness. (29.01.2008)
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Svalbard Global Seed Vault: 300 visited the seed vault
Svalbard Global Seed Vault: More than 300 people took the opportunity to visit the Svalbard Global Seed Vault on Open Day. (19.11.2007) |
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Engineers Begin Critical “Cooling Down” of Arctic Doomsday Seed Vault for Deep Freeze and 24-Hour Polar Night
Innovative, Energy Efficient Refrigeration System Employs Vault’s Natural Sandstone as “Cold Store” to Keep Facility at Steady -18C. (16.11.2007) |
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Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Invitation to world’s seed banks
“We are launching a brand new seed portal and also inviting all of the world’s seed banks to collaborate in a joint effort to secure genetic diversity in agriculture,” says Operation Manager Ola Westengen with the Nordic Gene Bank/Svalbard Global Seed Vault. (15.11.2007)
- Read more about the ”seed portal” |
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