"Backing up seeds in Svalbard is one of the easiest and most effective steps the world can take to protect the foundation of agriculture. The seeds are stored deep underground in freezers that keep them at a constant temperature of -18°C (-0.4°F). The permafrost and thick stone mean that the seeds will stay frozen, even if the power should fail."
"Many of these are vulnerable, exposed not only to natural catastrophes and war, but also to avoidable disasters, such as lack of funding or poor management. Something as mundane as a poorly functioning freezer can ruin an entire collection. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault's goal is to act as a final 'global backstop' for these national organisations."
"That collection has now been updated with over 7,800 seed varieties, including staple grains from Africa, olives from Spain, and ancient crops from Guatemala. These new donations bring the total number of unique seeds safely stored beneath the ground to a staggering 1,386,102."
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, located beneath a mountain in Spitsbergen, Norway, serves as a global backup for agricultural biodiversity. Recently updated with over 7,800 new seed varieties including African grains, Spanish olives, and ancient Guatemalan crops, the vault now contains 1,386,102 unique seeds. Seeds are stored at -18°C in underground freezers, protected by permafrost and thick stone that ensure preservation even during power failures. This facility acts as a final safeguard for national genebanks worldwide, many of which face vulnerabilities from natural disasters, war, poor management, or inadequate funding. The vault, opened in 2008 and managed by Norway's Ministry of Agriculture and Food, enables humanity to restart global agriculture following catastrophic events.
#seed-vault #agricultural-preservation #climate-resilience #biodiversity-conservation #global-food-security
Read at Mail Online
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