The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a secure storage facility safeguarding crop diversity against global threats, is set to receive over 14,000 new seed samples on Tuesday, its custodians announced.
Located deep inside a mountain on a remote Norwegian Arctic island, the vault serves as a last-resort backup for the world’s gene banks, protecting the genetic material of vital food crops from disasters ranging from nuclear war to climate change. Established in 2008, it has previously played a key role in restoring seed collections lost to conflict, including those damaged during Syria’s civil war.
“The seeds deposited this week represent not just biodiversity, but also the knowledge, culture, and resilience of the communities that steward them,” said Stefan Schmitz, Executive Director of the Crop Trust, which helps oversee the facility.
Among the latest additions is a collection of 15 seed species from Sudan, including various types of sorghum—a staple crop crucial to the country’s food security and cultural identity. The Crop Trust highlighted the significance of this deposit as Sudan grapples with a devastating war between the Rapid Support Forces and the army, which has killed tens of thousands and displaced 12 million people, leaving half the population facing hunger.
“In Sudan… these seeds represent hope,” said the director of Sudan’s Agricultural Plant Genetic Resources Conservation and Research Centre.
The vault’s new intake—totaling 14,022 samples—will be deposited at 14:30 GMT, including seeds of Nordic tree species from Sweden and rice varieties from Thailand.
