Svalbard - Global Seed Vault
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Preparing for the Apocalypse: Svalbard Global Seed Vault By Kaushik Saturday, October 12, 2013 Engineering, Food, Science 6 comments Endangered species such humpback whales and rhinoceros often grab the headlines, but plant life is under threat too. Fruits and vegetables that humans have been growing for millennia are dying out as we speak. One study found that out of more than 8,000 crop varieties grown in the US in 1903, only 600 remained by 1983. What will happen in the event of a global nuclear war, an asteroid strike or even catastrophic climate change? Will there by enough species left to restart a civilization? The solution – a Noah's ark for seeds. Located approximately 1,300 kilometers south of the North Pole, on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, in an underground cavern, lies the Svalbard Global Seed Vault – a large fortress that can hold up to 4.5 million seed varieties. Often called the “Doomsday” Seed Vault, the Svalbard Seed Vault is the world’s insurance policy against botanical disasters, so that food production can be restarted anywhere on the planet following a regional or global catastrophe. Photo credit Although the popular press depicts the vault as a way of providing refugee for seeds in the case of major global catastrophe, it’s more frequently utilized when genebanks lose samples due to mismanagement, accident, equipment failures, funding cuts and natural disasters, which seems to occur with some regularity. There are some 1,400 seed banks around the world, but many are in politically unstable or environmentally threatened nations. In recent years, some national genebanks have also been destroyed by war and civil strife. The vault was started by Cary Fowler in association with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), and is construction was funded (US$9 million) entirely by the government of Norway. Storage of seeds in the seed vault is free-of-charge, and operational costs are paid by Norway and the Global Crop Diversity Trust. Primary funding for the Trust comes from organizations, such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and from various governments worldwide The vault was opened in 2008, and within the first year, around 400,000 seed samples were in storage. Samples came in from Ireland, the U.S., Canada, Switzerland, Colombia, Mexico and Syria. As of March 2013, the number of distinct samples rose to 770,000. The vault is constructed 120 meters inside a sandstone mountain at Svalbard on Spitsbergen Island. The location was considered ideal due to its lack of tectonic activity and its permafrost, which will aid preservation. Being located 130 meters above sea level will ensure that the site remains dry even if the icecaps melt. RECENT ARTICLES Horse Drawn Trams of Victor Harbor Parade of Skeletons at the Gallery of Paleontology and Comparative Anatomy Intricate Mud Paintings on School Walls in India Bun Bang Fai Rocket Festival in Yasothon, Thailand Fordite: A Jewel Made From Layers of Old Car Paint Shanghai Marriage Market Amazing Body Painting by Trina Merry Gigantic Chest of Drawers at High Point, North Carolina Devilish Teeth of the Crabeater Seals Human Tears Under The Microscope SUBSCRIBE Amusing Planet 22,846 people like Amusing Planet. Facebook social plugin Like Like Search POPULAR THIS WEEK Tidal Bore: When Rivers Flow Ag Tidal Bore: When Rivers Flow Ag The Current The Current A tidal bore is a rare natural phenomenon in which incoming tide creates a wave of wa that travels up along a river or a nar bay ca... Svalbard Plant Seeds Grow Seeds Seeds Growing Billigflüge nach Norwegen billigflieger.de Flüge nach Norwegen finden Sie schnell mit unserem Preisvergleich! HOME ART & DESIGN ANIMALS ARCHITECTURE AUTO EVENTS FOOD FUNNY NATURE PEOPLE PHOTOGRAPHY TECH TRAVEL VINTAGE WTF . . . . Article Source: http://www.amusingplanet.com/2013/10/preparing-for-apocalypse-svalbard.html
Transcript of Svalbard - Global Seed Vault
Preparing for the Apocalypse: Svalbard Global Seed VaultBy Kaushik Saturday, October 12, 2013 Engineering, Food, Science 6 comments
Endangered species such humpback whales and rhinoceros often grab the
headlines, but plant life is under threat too. Fruits and vegetables that
humans have been growing for millennia are dying out as we speak. One
study found that out of more than 8,000 crop varieties grown in the US in
1903, only 600 remained by 1983. What will happen in the event of a global
nuclear war, an asteroid strike or even catastrophic climate change? Will
there by enough species left to restart a civilization? The solution – a
Noah's ark for seeds.
Located approximately 1,300 kilometers south of the North Pole, on the
Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, in an underground cavern, lies the
Svalbard Global Seed Vault – a large fortress that can hold up to 4.5 million
seed varieties. Often called the “Doomsday” Seed Vault, the Svalbard Seed
Vault is the world’s insurance policy against botanical disasters, so that food production can be restarted anywhere on the
planet following a regional or global catastrophe.
Photo credit
Although the popular press depicts the vault as a way of providing refugee for seeds in the case of major global catastrophe,
it’s more frequently utilized when genebanks lose samples due to mismanagement, accident, equipment failures, funding
cuts and natural disasters, which seems to occur with some regularity. There are some 1,400 seed banks around the world,
but many are in politically unstable or environmentally threatened nations. In recent years, some national genebanks have
also been destroyed by war and civil strife.
The vault was started by Cary Fowler in association with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
(CGIAR), and is construction was funded (US$9 million) entirely by the government of Norway. Storage of seeds in the seed
vault is free-of-charge, and operational costs are paid by Norway and the Global Crop Diversity Trust. Primary funding for the
Trust comes from organizations, such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and from various governments worldwide
The vault was opened in 2008, and within the first year, around 400,000 seed samples were in storage. Samples came in
from Ireland, the U.S., Canada, Switzerland, Colombia, Mexico and Syria. As of March 2013, the number of distinct samples
rose to 770,000.
The vault is constructed 120 meters inside a sandstone mountain at Svalbard on Spitsbergen Island. The location was
considered ideal due to its lack of tectonic activity and its permafrost, which will aid preservation. Being located 130 meters
above sea level will ensure that the site remains dry even if the icecaps melt.
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Seeds are packaged in special four-ply packets and heat sealed to exclude moisture. Locally mined coal provides power for
refrigeration units that store the seeds at −18 °C (0 °F). Even if the equipment fails, at least several weeks will elapse before
the temperature rises to the −3 °C (27 °F) of the surrounding sandstone bedrock. To maintain security, motion sensors and
a webcam monitor the door. The control tower at the local airport has a direct view of the site, which is kept well lit during the
dark winter months.
Running the length of the building's flat roof and down the front face to the doors of the building's concrete entry is a work of
art that marks the location of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault from a great distance. The the Norwegian artist Dyveke Sanne
was commissioned to make the light installation. The roof and vault entrance are filled with highly reflective stainless steel,
mirrors, and prisms. The installation acts as a beacon, reflecting polar light in the summer months, while in the winter, a
network of 200 fibre-optic cables gives the piece a muted greenish-turquoise and white light.
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Anonymous October 14, 2013 at 8:14 AM
I wonder if they have the seed for the glass gem corn we saw last week.
Reply
john morris October 14, 2013 at 10:16 AM
If we need those seeds, say, in 1000 years, will they not be susceptible to viruses and bacteria with which they have notevolved?
Reply
Anonymous October 16, 2013 at 12:02 AM
Oh well. If nothing will happen then at least we will have another cooly building for museum. :))
Reply
Raven January 4, 2014 at 11:49 PM
I'm not sure how to feel about this facility. It's probably a good idea. I would like to hope that they have many failsafes inplace for any scenario.
Reply
David February 6, 2014 at 1:57 AM
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when all goes wrong at we least we have seeds to stuff ourselves with...
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Richard O'Donoghue May 1, 2014 at 5:57 PM
this is no act of altruism on behalf of the mega-rich.the project was started to deal with local and global catastrophe, and since its inception there have been several cases of
famine .....still the seeds go in, nothing comes out.......it is just another comfort idea for the mega-rich in their post apocalyptic scenario.'when all goes wrong at we least we have seeds to stuff ourselves with...''we' ? ......honestly ?........'we' are the reason for the projects remoteness, and security.......'we' ....wont be sharing the benefits of any of this....when was the last time the Rockerfeller's or the Gates's invited youround for lunch?this was just another altruistic project that was hijacked by the elite......i would love to see the paperwork thataccompanied their 'Donations'
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