Crop genetic diversity is critical to plant adaptation and resilience, but the loss of seed variety is putting global food security at risk. For this reason, there is a race against time to save the planet's seeds, and the last move has been made by Svalbard Global Seed Vault, the “seed bank” located in a permafrost cave in the Arctic.
The repository recently received a record number of new contributors. Well 23 seed banks from all over the world have deposited seeds to preserve plant biodiversity and ensure future food security. An important step in the fight against the loss of biodiversity and for the protection of our planet.
Noah's Ark of Seeds speeds up harvesting
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault was opened in 2008 as a last resort to preserve the world's seeds from catastrophic events such as wars, pandemics and climate change. A rather farsighted operation, in light of the following years. Located on an island halfway between Norway and the North Pole, the repository consists of a series of quarries dug into the permafrost, which keep the seeds at a constant temperature of -18°C.
Who manages it? It's about the CropTrust, a non-profit organization that works to preserve plant biodiversity around the world.
Preserving genetic diversity in this Arctic fortress ensures the adaptability and resilience of our crops, ensuring food security for future generations
Stefan Schmitz, executive director of the Crop Trust
If you want to take a (virtual) tour of the "vault" of world agriculture, find it all here.
What is the purpose of a global seed repository?
I'll pretend I didn't hear the question. I will just say that since its establishment, the Svalbard seed vault has already demonstrated its importance in preserving plant biodiversity. And he's already done it twice. Between 2015 and 2019, provided seeds to Syrian researchers and farmers to help them rebuild their crops after the civil war. Lately, instead, he saved rice seeds from the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Humid Tropical Zone (CIAT), which had to move its collection from Colombia due to political instability.
All new arrivals
The recent deposition of seeds, as mentioned, is a crucial move for plant biodiversity and for agriculture of the planet. In practice, the "collection" born 16 years ago it grew by 30% in one fell swoop. It now has 111 seed banks from 77 countries. Yes, as many as 77 countries have a “backup” of their plants on Svalbard, according to the Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
Among the new arrivals there are seed banks from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cameroon, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria and Zambia. Deposited seeds also include crops such as beans, barley, corn, millet and sorghum.
The race against time to save the planet's seeds continues, but today marks an important stage.
