Global Seed Vault The World’S ‘Ultimate Insurance Policy’ For Future Food Security

Amidst the freezing temperatures of the Arctic Circle lies a doomsday vault, also known as the Global Seed Vault. This vault, located in the icy archipelago of Svalbard, serves as a refuge for plant DNA from around the world, protecting it from potential disasters such as war and climate change.

Svalbard, an optically captivating archipelago between Norway and the North Pole, experiences regular dips in temperature, often reaching as low as minus 30 degrees. Survival in this harsh environment is a constant struggle. However, hidden deep within the mountains, lies a structure with a singular purpose: the conservation of life. Beyond heavy doors and reinforced concrete walls, more than a million seed samples are carefully stored in permafrost. These samples represent the world's most significant and diverse crops, including wheat, peas, and beans. Scientists from hundreds of gene banks worldwide have sent these samples to this remote corner of the Earth to safeguard crucial DNA from potential catastrophes.

The one thing we can never predict is what might happen to gene banks. It could be a fire, a flood, or simply human error, like a staff member accidentally turning off the refrigerators. In light of these possibilities, a safety backup is necessary. The uniqueness of the seeds in the gene banks is our insurance for the future.

Speaking of the future, rising global temperatures and shifting climates pose significant challenges. Scientists assert that putting as many seeds as possible on ice now will ensure that the global population can be fed in the coming decades under the looming shadow of climate change. These changes bring about rougher climates, higher temperatures, longer droughts, more flooding, and the emergence of new pests and diseases. Our crops need to be resilient, able to navigate through these changing circumstances. Consequently, plant breeders require access to a wide range of genetic traits. These traits are extracted, mixed, and crossbred to create new varieties that can thrive in the future.

It's rather ironic that the concept of the Global Seed Vault took root in a coal mine. Svalbard's wealth was built on the extraction of fossil fuels. Now, it stands as one of the fastest-warming places on Earth. Although the coal mine is no longer operational, scientific testing continues within its icy chambers.

The containers behind me contain numerous wooden boxes, each filled with different species of crops, such as peas, beans, spinach, and more. These crops are stored in sealed glass vials inside the boxes. Every five years, one of these boxes is taken out and opened. The seeds are then tested for viability, as well as any changes that may have occurred.

Svalbard's unique location led the Norwegian government to construct a vault accessible to all nations. For the past 15 years, samples have been flown in, meticulously packed in foil, and prepared for their new home. This year, the West African nation of Benin is participating for the first time, depositing packages containing maize, rice, soybeans, and other essential commodities. With unreliable energy supplies at home, the director of Benin's gene banks emphasizes the need to move stocks from the equator to the Arctic. This relocation ensures that the DNA can be effectively conserved, even in the face of unpredictable power outages that could affect the germination of seeds.

Duplicating seeds is crucial. Should anything happen to the precious collections preserved within each nation, obtaining replacements from the Global Seed Vault becomes possible. The Crop Trust, an international organization dedicated to protecting global crop diversity, supports transportation costs for developing nations. Once the seeds are safely stored, the associated storage costs are waived.

The scientists entrusted with managing this vault proudly declare it as the world's ultimate insurance policy. It serves as a frozen archive of biodiversity, available for generations to come. Thus far, just one withdrawal has been made when a gene bank in Syria was destroyed by war in 2015. Whether it be conflict or climate change, the Global Seed Vault in Svalbard offers hope even in the darkest of times.

Laura Making, reporting from CNA Svalbard in the Arctic Circle, captures the essence of this extraordinary project that seeks to protect and preserve the very foundation of our sustenance - nature's diverse and invaluable genetic resources. The Global Seed Vault stands as a testament to humanity's commitment to ensuring the future of our food supply and the generations to come.