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A strange structure -

The Svalbard Seed Vault is located on the remote Arctic Svalbard archipelago in Norway. It is built deep inside a mountain, and is incredibly isolated and secure in order to maintain protection from both natural and human-made disasters.

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Purpose -

The primary purpose of the Svalbard Seed Vault is to serve as a global backup storage facility for seeds. It aims to safeguard the world’s crop diversity and ensure the availability of plant species for future generations, particularly in the face of climate change and other global threats.

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Storage capacity -

The vault has the capacity to store 4.5 million seed samples, with each sample containing about 500 seeds. Currently the vault houses over a million seed samples.

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Digital documentation -

Aside from storage, each seed sample in the vault is meticulously documented using advanced digital systems. This documentation includes information about the seed's origin, characteristics, and storage conditions, all of which is stored in a comprehensive database.

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Security -

The Svalbard Seed Vault is designed to withstand natural disasters, such as earthquakes and rising sea levels. Its robust construction, deep permafrost, and low temperature also ensure the seeds remain viable for long periods, even without human intervention.

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Climate control -

Inside the vault, seeds are stored at a temperature of -0.4°F (-18°C). This controlled environment, combined with the naturally cold climate of Svalbard, helps maintain the longevity of the seeds.

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Funding -

The government of Norway is responsible for the establishment and funding of the Svalbard Seed Vault. While they have overall responsibility for the institute, there is also an international panel that oversees its management.

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Philanthropic support -

The vault’s operations and projects are also supported by philanthropic contributions from various organizations and individuals around the globe.

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Global cooperation -

The seed vault operates on the principle of global cooperation. Countries and institutions from around the world deposit duplicate seeds from their collections, contributing to a shared effort in safeguarding agricultural biodiversity and food security.

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Access and deposits -

Access to the seed vault is highly restricted. Deposits are made by gene banks and research institutions worldwide, and each depositor retains ownership of their seeds and can withdraw them at any time.

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Insurance policy -

The Svalbard Seed Vault is often referred to as the "doomsday vault," since it acts as an insurance policy for the world’s food supply. In the event of regional or global crises, it ensures that seeds are available to restore and sustain agricultural systems.

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Food security -

Farmers have been known to use the vault as a means of maintaining food security. Researchers in the vault are constantly using their seeds to develop new plant varieties that can adapt to changing environmental conditions.

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Biotechnological research -

The seed vault supports biotechnological research by providing access to a wide array of genetic material, which is essential for scientists working on improving crops and even making them more disease-resistant.

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Syrian civil war -

The vault has proven its worth in times of crisis. For example, during the Syrian civil war, the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) withdrew seeds to reestablish their collection.

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Monitoring -

Continuous monitoring of the vault’s environment ensures that it remains in optimal condition. Advanced sensors track temperature and even humidity in real-time to maintain the ideal storage conditions for seed preservation.

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Public outreach -

The Svalbard Seed Vault often engages in public and educational outreach to raise awareness about the importance of genetic conservation. Through educational programs, it highlights the significance of preserving the world’s agricultural heritage.

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Collaboration -

Scientists and researchers from various fields continuously work together in the vault to develop innovative methods for conserving plant genetic resources.

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Culture and history -

Beyond its scientific and agricultural importance, the Svalbard Seed Vault holds cultural and historical value. It serves as a testament to human ingenuity and cooperation in preserving the planet’s biodiversity for future generations.

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Climate change - The seed vault has encountered many continual issues with climate change in recent years. Due to warming global temperatures, the vault often experiences flooding from melted ice and snow. But the seeds inside are so well-protected that they are not at risk.

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Power outage -

The vault’s electricity is supplied by a public power plant in Longyearbyen, but the vault also has generators installed in the case of an emergency or power outage.

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Renewal and updates -

Periodic reviews and updates to the vault’s infrastructure and protocols ensure it remains at the forefront of seed preservation. The seeds are also updated every so often, since some seeds cannot be preserved for extensive periods of time.

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Biodiversity -

The vault’s efforts extend beyond preserving seeds of food crops; it also stores wild relatives of domesticated plants. These wild species are crucial for maintaining the genetic diversity necessary for adapting to future agricultural challenges.

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Policy -

The vault plays a rather critical role in global policies, since it raises awareness for institutions around the world about the importance of ensuring that the planet’s agricultural assets are protected.

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Ethics - The Svalbard Seed Vault embodies the principles of conservation ethics, and brings into question what we as humanity owe to nature. It argues that we have a moral responsibility to preserve the genetic heritage of the planet.

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Ecology -

As ecosystems continuously change and humanity exerts many negative side effects on nature, the Svalbard Seed Vault has never been more important. It contributes to maintaining ecological balance by preserving the genetic diversity of plants.

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Education -

Students, researchers, and the general public also benefit from the vault as an educational resource. There are many freely available articles online that can help future generations understand the value of conservation and the vault’s role in maintaining it.

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Global seed banks -

Around the world, there are roughly 1,700 seed banks that house collections similar to Svalbard’s vault. Although Svalbard’s is the biggest and most protected, the others also play crucial roles in maintaining biodiversity.

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Long-term vision -

The Svalbard Seed Vault operates with a long-term vision, aiming to preserve seeds for centuries. Indeed, most of the seeds can be preserved for more than 200 years, all in an effort to protect future generations.

Sources: (Crop Trust) (Svalbard Global Seed Vault) (Time) (Visit Svalbard) (The Guardian)

See also: How to grow your garden without soil

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