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Svalbard Global Seed Vault

Ensuring that the genetic diversity of the world’s food crops is preserved for future generations is an important contribution toward the reduction of hunger and poverty in developing countries. This is where the greatest plant diversity originates and where the need for food security and the further development of agriculture is most urgent.

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, which is established in the permafrost in the mountains of Svalbard, is designed to store duplicates of seeds from seed collections around the globe. Many of these collections are in developing countries. If seeds are lost, e.g. as a result of natural disasters, war or simply a lack of resources, the seed collections may be reestablished using seeds from Svalbard.

The loss of biological diversity is currently one of the greatest challenges facing the environment and sustainable development. The diversity of food crops is under constant pressure. The consequence could be an irreversible loss of the opportunity to grow crops adapted to climate change, new plant diseases and the needs of an expanding population.

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		Svalbard Global Seed Vault: 50 000 seed samples sent to the Vault Svalbard Global Seed Vault has received a major seed shipment while world leaders are gathered to tackle climate change in Copenhagen. (14.12.2009)
		Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Awarded the Norwegian Lighting Prize for 2009 Svalbard Global Seed Vault has been awarded Norwegian Lighting Prize for 2009. The award was established by The Norwegian Lighting Institute, and is presented every second year. The purpose of the Norwegian Lighting Prize is to focus on and emphasize lighting culture in Norway. (04.11.2009)
		Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Norway praised for the seed vault Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Minister of Agriculture and Food Lars Peder Brekk was praised by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon that Norway had the idea and the ability to carry out the building of Svalbard Global Seed Vault. (07.09.2009)
		Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Visit of Ban Ki-moon Svalbard Global Seed Vault: On Wednesday 2 September, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is visiting Svalbard Global Seed Vault together with Minister of Agriculture and Food Lars Peder Brekk. “Maintenance of the genetic diversity in the world’s food crops for future generations is crucial to fight against hunger and poverty in third world countries,” says Brekk. (07.09.2009)
		Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Construction of the year 2008 Svalbard Global Seed Vault: The Norwegian construction company Leonhard Nilsen & Sønner, that built Svalbard Global Seed Vault, recently received the prize for best Construction 2008 during "Byggedagene" in Oslo, Norway. (27.03.2009)
		Svalbard Global Seed Vault: How to feed a warming world? Svalbard Global Seed Vault: This fundamentally important question was addressed by more than 60 participants from governments, universities, industry and NGOs from all over the world, who were gathered at Svalbard for the celebration of the first Anniversary of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. (13.03.2009)
		Acknowledged by the godfather of the green revolution Svalbard Global Seed Vault: - As years go by farmers everywhere will bless the visionaries of Svalbard for their invaluable contributions to food for all and for ever, says Dr. M. S. Swaminathan, named as one of the 20 Most Influential Asians of the 20th Century by TIME Magazine. (05.03.2009)
		Svalbard Global Seed Vault first year a success Svalbard Global Seed Vault: 25 national and international institutions have deposited more than 400 000 unique seed samples for long-term back up security storage in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. - The Svalbard Seed Vault has proven to be great success in its first operative year, says Norway’ minister of Agriculture and Food, Lars Peder Brekk. (02.03.2009)
		Svalbard Global Seed Vault: A global insurance policy Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Lars Peder Brekk, the Norwegian Minister of Agriculture and Food held the opening speech at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault First Anniversary Seminar in Longyearbyen today. He emphasized that climate change will affect agriculture, and how the world can use plant genetic resources to be prepared. (26.02.2009)
		Svalbard Global Seed Vault: First anniversary Svalbard Global Seed Vault: On 26 February it is one year since the Svalbard Global Seed Vault was completed. This was the run-up to one of the world's most ambitious projects to secure the food supply in the future. The day will be celebrated through an international seminar in Longyearbyen hosted by Minister of Agriculture and Food Lars Peder Brekk. (25.02.2009)
		Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Repairs completed Svalbard Global Seed Vault: The outermost 5-6 metres of the access tunnel at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault was exposed to settling during the summer, which led to undesired deformation of the access tunnel. The plant now appears as it did before the incident. The temporary scaffolding that was erected as a temporary repair measure has been removed, as it is no longer required. (09.12.2008)
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Sixth best invention of 2007 The Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Just beaten by the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland and ahead of a new generation of hybrid engines from Chevrolet, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault sneaks onto the list of the world's best inventions in 2007 - selected by Time Magazine. Minister of Agriculture and Food Lars Peder Brekk is very proud. (31.10.2008)
		Svalbard Global Seed Vault: New seeds in the vault Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Early in October the content of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault grew by more than 30,000 new seed samples. The largest deposit this time was a shipment of 1.6 tons of seed samples from the gene bank of the international agricultural research institute ICRISAT in India. In addition, seeds were deposited from gene banks in Benin, Kenya and South Korea. (16.10.2008)
Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Supplementary work has started Svalbard Global Seed Vault: "When spring arrived in Svalbard, it was apparent that the permafrost had not had time, between the completion of the construction of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault and the end of winter, to re-freeze the loose soil and rock that had been replaced around the entrance to the Seed Vault. The result was that the tubing lining the first five to six meters of the tunnel, closest to the entrance door, was damaged. (26.08.2008)
		Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Visitors from The U.S.A. Svalbard Global Seed Vault: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food will today play host to a number of American politicians, climate experts and representatives from the business community. The group includes former President Jimmy Carter, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, former Senator Tom Daschle, CNN boss Ted Turner and Google founder Larry Page. (11.07.2008)
Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Huge interest Svalbard Global Seed Vault: There is huge interest in visiting the global seed vault on Svalbard. Jimmy Carter, George Soros and Ted Turner are amongst those who will visit the vault this summer. There are heavy restrictions on access to the vault. (20.06.2008)
From safety in permafrost to optimal conditions Svalbard Global Seed Vault: During their last visit to the Seed Vault staff from the Nordic Genetic Resource Centre (NordGen) moved the Nordic countries’ safety seed collection from a mine to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. (20.05.2008)
		Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Summary of the Svalbard Conference The Conference “Svalbard Global Seed Vault - Saving Seeds for Eternity?” included as speakers representatives from a range of organizations and areas of expertise that contributed to the development of the Seed Vault. Read more in the summary of the conference. (27.03.2008)
Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Genetic resources in storage Svalbard Global Seedvault: There is broad agreement amongst experts that access to variety and genetic diversity in plants is essential in a future of great climatic challenges. Diversity is perhaps the most valuable natural resource we are in possession of, says Terje Riis-Johansen The Norwegian Minister of Agriculture and Food in a new feature article. (26.03.2008)
		Seed Vault Advisory Council Holds first meeting in Svalbard Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Looking toward the future, the newly appointed International Advisory Council held its first meeting within hours of the official opening of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. (28.02.2008)
Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Has begun its operation Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Within hours of the conclusion of the official opening ceremony of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, the Vault was already in business. (28.02.2008)
		Arctic Seed Vault Opens Doors for 100 Million Seeds Svalbard Global Seed Vault: At the opening ceremony today, the Prime Minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenberg, unlocked the vault, and together with the African Nobel Peace Prize-winning environmentalist Wangari Maathai he placed the first seeds in the vault. (26.02.2008)
		Norway contributes to plant breeding in developing countries From 2009 Norway is going to give an annual contribution to the International Treaty’s benefit-sharing fund for financing plant breeding in developing countries and challenge other OECD-members to contribute likewise. If all the challenged countries accept, the fund can get some 200 million dollars during a ten year period. (25.02.2008)
		Svalbard Global Seed Vault: The seeds are on their way Svalbard Global Seed Vault: The Svalbard Global Seed Vault will open on 26 February. The facility will house seed samples of food plants from absolutely the entire world. And the seeds are on their way, from Colombia, Mexico, Canada, the Philippines, Syria, Nigeria, Pakistan, Kenya and many other countries. (08.02.2008)
		Svalbard Global Seed Vault: The art is in place Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Dyveke Sanne’s spectacular artwork is now in place at the entrance to Svalbard Global Seed Vault. The art will identify the building from a distance, in both daylight and darkness. (29.01.2008)

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