Opening of Svalbard Global Seed Bank

Posted by TopVeg - February 25th, 2008

The new Svalbard global crop seed bank is being officially opened this week.

The Norwegian government has hollowed out a cave on the ice-bound island of Spitsbergen to hold the new global crop seed bank. The seed will be stored in a reinforced concrete tunnel drilled 70 metres (230ft) into a mountain, guarded by two steel doors and remote-controlled from Sweden.

Although there are already many seed banks in the world, this one is designed to withstand global catastrophes like nuclear war or natural disasters that would destroy the planet’s sources of food. The seeds will be stored in foil packets at -18C, and are expected to remain viable for thousands of years.

The seeds stored in the Svalbard Global Seed Bank will help maintain the diversity of our vegetable crops. Conserving the right type of crop for the right climate and production of the right foods is an important task.

Posted in diary

4 Comments »

  1. I heard about this on CBC radio this morning, and while it sounds good at face value, there are those who stress that people shouldn’t see this as the be-all and end all solution to maintaining genetic diversity. The theory is that ‘people can’ go in, get seeds, grow them regularly to maintain their viability etc, but will that really happen? Let’s hope so…

    Comment by jodi - February 25, 2008 2:53 pm

  2. Jodi

    That is a good point. We must not give up the batton - it is our responsibility to do all we can - and keep growing a variety of seeds, including the old ones.

    The global crop seed bank is a safety net - just in case the worst happens. Perhaps there are seeds which we cannot grow in our present environment - but may need if the situation changes

    Thanks for your thoughts.

    Comment by TopVeg - February 25, 2008 3:23 pm

  3. […] When The Svalbard Global Seed Bank was opened at the end of February, Jim Godfrey, Chair of the International Potato Centre, was present. […]

    Pingback by Top Veg » Blog Archive » Potato Seed Deposited in Svalbard Seed Bank - March 14, 2008 4:42 am

  4. […] keep the seeds cool during storage - between 32° and 41°F (fridge is ideal.  Seeds can be frozen (except pea & bean seeds which do not keep well when frozen.)   Frozen vegetable seeds will stay viable for years, as in the Svalbard global crop seed bank.  […]

    Pingback by Top Veg » Blog Archive » How to Store Vegetable Seeds in 6 steps - August 18, 2008 4:57 am

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