Svalbard global seed vault
Ensuring that the genetic diversity of the world’s food plants is preserved for future generations is an important contribution to the fight against hunger and poverty in developing countries. This is where the greatest plant diversity originates, and where the need for food security and further development of agriculture is most pressing.
Svalbard Global seed vaults established in the permafrost inside the mountains of Svalbard 
is designed for storing security duplicates of seeds from seed collections around the world. Many of these collections are located in developing countries. If seeds are lost, for example as a result of natural disasters, war or simply lack of resources, the seed collections will be re-established with seeds from Svalbard.
The loss of biodiversity is one of the greatest challenges facing the environment and sustainable development today. The diversity of food plants is constantly under pressure. The consequence is a non-reversible loss of our ability to grow food plants adapted to climate change, new plant diseases and the needs of a growing population.
To help safeguard existing plant life against various global disasters such as nuclear accidents, plant diseases and other major threats that could wipe out the plants, up to four million different seeds will be stored down in the permafrost. Gene banks from all over the world, around 1,400 in number, will contribute and send duplicates of all their seeds to Svalbard. In this way, seeds from the entire planet will be secured for the future. Each country owns its own genetic material, but in the event of an international crisis situation, it can be made available to all]. A cool temperature will calm the development of the seeds and preserve them for years. If needed, the seeds can be thawed from the storage temperature of minus 18 degrees and germinated again. As of 2010, the seed warehouse has around half a million seed samples
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is located approximately 1 km as the crow flies from Longyearbyen airport, and is entirely a mountain facility blasted into the permafrost (minus 3-4 degrees Celsius). The facility is designed for a virtually “infinite” lifespan.
The seed vault consists of three separate underground halls, each with storage capacity for 1.5 million seed samples. Using its own electrical machinery powered by electricity from the local utility, the facility maintains a constant indoor temperature of minus 18 degrees Celsius. The hall houses storage racks where the pre-packaged samples of food seeds from the depositors (donor countries) are placed.
The seed vault was officially opened at a ceremony on February 26, 2008, attended by Wangari Maathai, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, EU President José Manuel Barroso and 200 other invited guests.
Art decoration at Svalbard global seed vault
A work of art created by Dyveke Sanne decorates 
the entrance to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. In a press release in January 2008, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food described the artwork as follows: “The ceiling and parts of the front of the visible entrance area are filled with triangles of highly reflective, acid-proof steel in different sizes. Together with other refractive elements such as dichroic mirrored glass and prisms, these will throw the surroundings and light back in all directions. The building will reflect sunlight and light, depending on the season and time of day. During the hours of darkness, other light sources will take over. The light is complementary to the darkness excavated in the permafrost within, and will help to signal the position of the seed vault at all times.” The art project was produced and implemented by Kunst i offentlige rom (KORO).
Svalbard seeds in Svalbard Global Seed Vault
Climate change in combination with human activity can be a threat to the Arctic flora. The aim of the project is to secure Norway’s Arctic flora and its genetic diversity for the future by storing seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault.
The aim of this project was to collect seeds of approximately 100 species including the rare species found in the Isfjord area. Storing seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault is a possible method for securing genetic diversity for the future for 69 out of 113 surveyed species. The method works for 8 of the 21 Red List species surveyed, while for the others alternative methods of ex situ conservation must be found.
A highlight that can be highlighted from the report is that polar kidney brome (Ranuculus wilanderi), which is endemic to Svalbard, germinated, and that Icelandic starling (Carex kreusei), which is only known from two locations in Svalbard, had 67% germination.
[youtube height=”344″ width=”425″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXW_vzQppGI[/youtube]
