SVALBARD GLOBAL SEED VAULT: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

SVALBARD GLOBAL SEED VAULT: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

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WHAT’S IN NEWS?

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway, often called the "Arctic Doomsday Seed Vault," has received over 14,000 new seed samples to strengthen its mission of preserving global crop diversity. India also has its own high-altitude seed bank at Chang La, Ladakh, established in 2010, to safeguard its agricultural biodiversity against climate change and future crises.

 

Svalbard Global Seed Vault: The Arctic Doomsday Seed Bank

Introduction

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, often referred to as the “Arctic Doomsday Seed Vault,” has recently received over 14,000 new seed samples, reinforcing its critical role in preserving global agricultural biodiversity. This secure facility acts as a backup for seed banks worldwide, ensuring the survival of crop diversity in the face of climate change, natural disasters, wars, and other crises.

 

About the Svalbard Global Seed Vault

World’s Largest Secure Seed Bank

  • Established: The seed vault was officially opened in 2008 as a global initiative to protect crop diversity.
  • Location: Situated on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, within the Arctic Svalbard archipelago, approximately 1,300 km from the North Pole.
  • Objective: To serve as the ultimate safety net for seed collections around the world by storing duplicate copies of seeds to protect against biodiversity loss.
  • International Collaboration: Operated by Norwegian authorities, in partnership with the Global Crop Diversity Trust (Crop Trust) and the Nordic Genetic Resource Center (NordGen).

 

Seed Preservation Mechanism

  • Ultra-Low Temperature Storage:
  • The vault maintains a constant temperature of -18°C, which slows down seed aging and extends their viability for centuries.
  • Natural Protection:
  • Built inside a mountain, the vault is surrounded by permafrost and thick rock, ensuring protection even in the event of a power failure.
  • Security Measures:
  • The vault is designed to withstand earthquakes, nuclear disasters, and rising sea levels, making it one of the safest storage facilities on Earth.
  • Seed Access and Withdrawal:
  • The deposited seeds remain the property of the contributing country or organization, and can only be retrieved in case of loss in their home gene banks.
  • The first-ever withdrawal was made by Syria in 2015, after the country’s seed bank in Aleppo was destroyed due to war.

 

Significance of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault

  • Food Security: Acts as an insurance policy for future generations by safeguarding key agricultural crops.
  • Protection Against Climate Change: Helps preserve plant species that may become extinct due to global warming.
  • Support for Global Agriculture: Provides a backup for over 1,700 seed banks worldwide, ensuring the continued availability of diverse crops.
  • Biodiversity Conservation: Stores a vast collection of genetic material, which is crucial for breeding climate-resilient and disease-resistant crops.

 

India’s Own Seed Conservation Facility

High-Altitude Seed Bank at Chang La, Ladakh

  • Established: Built in 2010 as India’s own seed conservation facility.
  • Location: Situated at Chang La in Ladakh, one of the highest-altitude seed banks in the world.
  • Developed By: Jointly developed by the Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR) and the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
  • Function: Plays a crucial role in preserving India’s unique plant genetic diversity and ensuring long-term food security.
  • Significance:
  • Provides a backup for India’s crop varieties in case of climate-related threats or disasters.
  • Supports research and breeding programs to develop climate-resilient crop species.

 

Conclusion

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault and India’s Chang La seed bank are vital for securing the future of global and national agriculture. These facilities act as safety nets against biodiversity loss, climate change, and unforeseen disasters, ensuring that critical crop species remain available for future generations. With the growing risks posed by environmental changes and global conflicts, such seed conservation efforts are more important than ever in preserving agricultural heritage and food security.

 

Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2106662