Svalbard Global Seed Vault receives seed shipment on October 23, 2024.
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault – the world’s largest reserve seed storage facility – this week received over 31,000 new seed samples from 23 countries, including Palestine and Sudan, marking the largest contributions since the vault was established in 2008.
Each country has its own unique crops, deeply tied to local traditions and ecosystems, but now these seeds are part of a global collection aimed at ensuring the availability of food for generations to come, as modern agriculture, climate change and conflict threaten food security, biodiversity and survival of native species.
The 119 boxes sent to the remote northern Norwegian island of Spitsbergen are a critical step in preserving the genetic diversity of crops needed to withstand climate crises and current conflicts around the world: “Climate change and conflicts threaten infrastructure and affect in food security for over 700 people. million people in more than 75 countries around the world,” said Stefan Schmitz, executive director of the Crop Trust, an international organization working to preserve the diversity of beneficial crops and ensure global food security, in a statement. and nutrition.
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault was opened by the Norwegian government in February 2008 and has since received seed shipments from various parts of the world with the latest deposit taking place last May with a total of 20,720 seed samples from 15 genebanks.
There are local and national seed banks, but if they are damaged, the Norwegian vault serves as a backup. This support is made possible by Norway as part of the Biodiversity for Opportunities, Livelihood and Development (BOLD) project: “This deposit shows the value of international cooperation and Norway’s role in ensuring global food security,” said Geir Pollestad, Norway . The Minister of Agriculture and Food in a statement.
Seeds from conflict zones and indigenous people
The Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) in Palestine has distributed seeds of 21 types of … [+]
This round of contributions saw first-time deposits from Bangladesh, Bolivia, Chad, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea and Suriname with a variety of sesame, maize, sweet potato, beans and tropical plant seeds.
Among the most important deposits this week are those from Palestine and Sudan, two areas ravaged by war and instability. From Palestine, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) contributed 21 varieties of vegetables, legumes and herbs by sending only 23 seeds.
The United Nations Satellite Center analyzed data from satellite images of the Gaza Strip, showing that due to the ongoing conflict, 76% of its agricultural land was affected in September, with possible loss of native species.
After more than a year of civil war, almost 18 million people in Sudan are facing acute food insecurity and agricultural production has been limited due to the conflict. However, Sudan’s Agricultural Plant Genetic Resources Conservation and Research Center (APGRC) sent hundreds of samples of sorghum and pearl millet, staples for millions across Africa.
The African state of Chad sent through its Institute Tchadien de Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement … [+]
About 125 indigenous farming families in Bolivia helped harvest maize and bean varieties that are part of their cultural identity: “Each maize variety has cultural significance for indigenous communities. As drought and early season frosts threaten traditional farming practices , these seeds become a lifeline for both our agricultural and cultural heritage,” said Alfredo José Salinas Arcienega, BOLD project coordinator in Bolivia.
A race against time
Some of the seeds are not just familiar crops like rice or corn, but also ‘opportunity crops’ – plants with untapped potential to thrive in harsh conditions. Many, such as okra, millet and pigeon peas, have historically been overlooked and under-harvested. However, with changing climate patterns, these sustainable crops may hold the key to future food security, especially in regions prone to drought and extreme weather.
“Humanity depends on a wide variety of genetic resources to meet future challenges,” Lise Lykke Steffensen, Executive Director of the Nordic Center for Genetic Resources (NordGen), which manages the vault, said in a statement. “These seeds are the building blocks for climate-resilient crops that tolerate extreme weather, pests and diseases, they are also living proof of the sustainability of agriculture and human society,” she said.
The urgency of these deposits cannot be overstated as 2023 was the hottest year on record, with unprecedented droughts and floods destroying crops around the world. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault will provide a critical safety net as although we cannot predict the future, we can prepare for it.