Were You Aware?
By celticeagle
@celticeagle (189792)
Boise, Idaho
April 1, 2017 4:40pm CST
I had forgotten this and saw something on the Science Channel that reminded me it was around. That is the Svalbard Global Seed Vault located on the remote Arctic Svalbard archipelago on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen. It is 1,300 kilometers (or 810 miles) from the North Pole. CGIAR(Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research were the ones who starts this vault to assure against the loss of seeds in any kind of global crises. There is a tripartite(three part) agreement that manages the vault. This agreement is between the Norwegian government, the Global Crop Diversity Trust and the Nordic Genetic Resource Center. Funding for the trust comes from such organizations as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Storing seeds in the vault is free. It cost $9 million to construct and officially opened on February,26, 2008. The facility can hold and conserve 4.5 million variety of seeds and approximately 1.5 million distinct seed samples are thought to exist. Right now the vault holds 880,000 samples.
You can read more about what type of seeds and the vault here:
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is a fail-safe seed storage facility, built to stand the test of time — and the challenge of natural or man-made disasters.
4 people like this
3 responses
@celticeagle (189792)
• Boise, Idaho
2 Apr 17
I think it was great thinking for the future.
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
2 Apr 17
@celticeagle It is an excellent precaution against complete loss of plant species.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
3 Apr 17
that is.... an amazing and awesome idea there. We need to get more seeds in there.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189792)
• Boise, Idaho
3 Apr 17
I think that 800,000 is a good start.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189792)
• Boise, Idaho
2 Apr 17
And we may very much need to have these at some point in the future.
1 person likes this
