Svalbard Global Seed Vault partners direct prize money toward safeguarding vulnerable seed collections

The three partners responsible for the Svalbard Global Seed Vault announced today that they will use the EUR 50,000 prize money from the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for International Cooperation to help genebanks safeguard important seed collections in the Seed Vault that might otherwise remain vulnerable.

- This award recognizes an extraordinary international effort to safeguard the crop diversity on which our future food security depends. By directing the prize money toward collections that still need protection, we are extending that spirit of cooperation and helping ensure that valuable seeds remain secure for future generations,” said Nils Kristen Sandtrøen, Minister of Agriculture and Food of Norway.

The announcement was made at a press conference ahead of the Princess of Asturias Awards ceremony, where the Svalbard Global Seed Vault will be recognized for its contribution to international cooperation and the long-term security of the world’s crop diversity. The seeds stored in the Seed Vault can be used by researchers and breeders in the future to develop new crop varieties adapted to the challenges the world may face.

The Government of Norway, the Nordic Genetic Resource Center (NordGen) and the Crop Trust have agreed to direct the prize money to the Emergency Reserve for Genebanks, jointly administered by the Crop Trust and the Secretariat of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

The funding will help one or more eligible genebanks prepare and deposit safety duplicates of critical seed collections in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. The three partners will jointly agree on the support to be provided, prioritizing collections that could not otherwise be deposited.