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A storage facility in the Arctic, designed to protect agricultural crops from disappearing, recently received a record-breaking number of new seed deposits, according to a spokesperson for the isolated vault.
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, set in permafrost caves on an island halfway between mainland Europe and the North Pole, was launched in 2008 as the ultimate backup for the world’s gene banks to protect plants from war, disease and climate change.
During the years 2015-2019, the vault played a crucial role in restoring seed collections that were harmed during the Syrian war, by receiving samples from various locations around the globe.
On Tuesday, individuals who deposited money brought boxes filled with seeds to the entrance of the vault. The entrance is a narrow and elongated structure that extends from the hillside covered in snow.
is equipped with sliding airlocked doors and a sophisticated system of sensors.
The pathway to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault is outfitted with sliding airlock doors and an advanced sensor system.
Twenty-three seed banks participated in the event, with nine of them being first-time participants. This is the highest number of new introductions at one event, as reported by Crop Trust, a non-profit organization that runs the facility in collaboration with Norwegian authorities.
The organizations Crop Trust noted that initial contributors to seed storage included seed banks from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cameroon, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, and Zambia.
On Tuesday, the crates that were delivered contained various crops including beans, barley, cowpea, maize, rice, millet, and sorghum, according to the notification.
The Executive Director of Crop Trust, Stefan Schmitz, stated that protecting genetic variety in this remote Arctic area is crucial for the ability of our crops to adapt and bounce back, ultimately ensuring a secure food supply for future generations.
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A sign displaying a polar bear is situated near the town of Longyearbyen in the Arctic, alerting drivers to their potential presence.
On Tuesday, numerous deposits were made as a result of the BOLD project, a 10-year effort focused on promoting global food and nutrition security. The trust also mentioned that this project aims to enhance biodiversity on a global scale.
According to Norway’s ministry of agriculture and food, 111 seed banks in 77 countries now have a duplicate of their plant collections deposited in Svalbard.
The chambers, which open only three times annually in order to minimize the seeds’ exposure to external elements, maintain a temperature of approximately -18 degrees Celsius (-0.4 degrees Fahrenheit).
In 1900, Longyearbyen, located on Svalbard island in Norway, had an average temperature of -7.8C. However, since then, it has increased by 3.7C, which is over three times the global average of about 1°C.
The temperature has increased, but there is also more moisture, which could cause problems for the Doomsday vault because the seeds need consistent temperatures and dry environments for preservation.
Marie Haga, the executive director of the Crop Trust, stated to CNN that Svalbard is the ultimate protection for preserving biodiversity of crops.
In 2008, the vault was unlocked. The Norwegian government provided the necessary finances for its creation, collaborating with the Crop Trust organization. The vault serves as a protected storage facility for approximately one million seed specimens, preserving more than 13,000 years of farming heritage.
Source: independent.co.uk
