What Is a Seed Vault?

A seed vault is a facility designed to store and protect seeds from various potential threats, serving as a backup for the world’s gene banks.

Imagine being part of a team selected to settle on a new planet that could potentially support human life. One of the first things you would need to address is growing food. While the new planet may have its own plant life, it is likely that humans would want to cultivate crops they are familiar with from Earth.

If the new planet has soil similar to Earth, growing food would involve planting seeds and hoping they grow into healthy plants, just like on Earth. The process of planting a seed and witnessing its transformation into a fully grown plant is remarkable, considering that all the genetic information necessary to grow a plant is contained within that tiny seed.

Today, farmers and scientists prioritize cultivating high-quality seeds that yield large, healthy harvests. They also store seed samples to safeguard against potential disasters that could wipe out certain crops.

Why do we need to save seeds for the future? Scientists believe it is a wise precaution. Various factors, such as climate change, severe droughts, floods, and even nuclear war, could threaten food supplies. In the event of such disasters, scientists require seed samples to regenerate food crops. Currently, there are over 1,700 gene banks worldwide that store collections of seeds.

While gene banks are valuable resources, they are also vulnerable to the very disasters they aim to protect against. Natural disasters, wars, and even equipment malfunctions, like refrigerator breakdowns, could destroy the stored seed samples.

In 2003, scientist Cary Fowler conceived the idea of a global seed vault that would serve as a fail-safe backup for all the world’s seeds. In 2008, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault was constructed in the side of a mountain on a remote island above the Arctic Circle in Norway.

The location was chosen for its isolation and climate. The seeds stored in the vault, also known as the “Doomsday Vault,” are kept at a temperature of about 0º F, and the area remains naturally frozen throughout the year. This ensures the safety of the seeds even if there is a mechanical failure.

While the seeds in the vault could potentially be used to revive extinct crops in the aftermath of a global disaster, they also have more immediate practical uses. They serve as a valuable genetic resource for scientists aiming to develop new crop varieties with specific traits, such as higher yields, resistance to pests, improved nutrition, and tolerance to drought.

However, the primary purpose of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault is to provide a backup to the numerous gene banks around the world. Is it truly necessary? Unfortunately, the answer is yes.

Initially, the first extraction from the vault occurred in 2015. The seeds stored in the vault were used to replace those from a gene bank in Aleppo, Syria, which was damaged due to the ongoing war in the country.

The seed vault was constructed with a large capacity to store seeds. Experts estimate that the vault can hold up to 2.5 billion seeds, representing more than 4.5 million different types of crops. Currently, the vault contains nearly 1 million seeds from almost every country in the world, representing more than 13,000 years of agricultural history!

Give It a Try

Are you ready to engage in some gardening? Ask a friend or family member to assist you in exploring the following activities:

• If you can’t visit the Arctic Circle in the near future, don’t worry! Go online and take an Interactive Visit to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. You’ll be able to witness the process of seed deposit from the entrance to the shelves!
• The Crop Trust operates in various regions across the globe. To understand the global reach of its activities, check out the online Interactive Map. Click on any location to learn more about it, including the Svalbard Global Seed Vault!
• Is the Svalbard Global Seed Vault a completely secure facility? It was selected for its natural defense systems, but is it protected from the effects of global climate change? Recent news reports mentioned flooding that supposedly occurred within the vault’s tunnel due to melting permafrost. However, how much danger did this pose to the seeds? Go online and read Turns Out the Svalbard Seed Vault Is Probably Fine to find out more!

Sources of Wonder

• http://time.com/doomsday-vault/
• https://www.croptrust.org/our-work/svalbard-global-seed-vault/
• http://www.livescience.com/56247-global-seed-vault.html

FAQ

1. What is a seed vault?

A seed vault is a facility built to preserve and protect the genetic diversity of plant species. It is a secure and controlled environment where seeds are stored for long periods of time, ensuring their availability for future generations.

2. How does a seed vault work?

A seed vault works by storing seeds in a frozen and dry environment, typically underground or in a mountain. The low temperature and low humidity conditions help to slow down the seed’s metabolism and prevent deterioration. The seeds are carefully packaged and stored in sealed containers to protect them from moisture, pests, and other threats.

3. Why is a seed vault important?

A seed vault is important because it serves as a backup or insurance policy for the world’s food supply. It safeguards the genetic diversity of plants, which is crucial for adaptation to changing environmental conditions, disease resistance, and the development of new varieties. It also protects against the loss of plant species due to natural disasters, conflicts, or other unforeseen events.

4. Where is the largest seed vault located?

The largest seed vault is located on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen in the Arctic Svalbard archipelago. Known as the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, it is situated deep inside a mountain and is designed to withstand natural and man-made disasters. The vault currently holds over one million seed samples from around the world.

5. Who owns the seed vault?

The seed vault is owned and managed by the Norwegian government. However, it operates as a global facility, and countries and organizations from around the world can deposit their seeds for safekeeping. The seeds remain the property of the depositors, who have the right to withdraw them if needed.

6. Are there other seed vaults in the world?

Yes, there are other seed vaults in the world besides the one in Svalbard. Many countries have their own national seed banks or vaults to preserve their unique plant species and agricultural heritage. These seed vaults work in conjunction with the global seed vault in Svalbard to ensure the long-term conservation of plant genetic resources.