The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, often referred to as the “doomsday” vault, is a secure facility on a remote Norwegian Arctic island that stores food crop seeds from around the world. Located deep inside a mountain, the vault is designed to withstand natural and man-made disasters, from nuclear war to climate change. Since its launch in 2008, it has served as a backup for the world’s gene banks, preserving the genetic codes of thousands of plant species. On Tuesday, the vault received a new deposit of 14,022 seed samples, including contributions from Sudan, Sweden, and Thailand.
Sudan’s Contribution: Seeds of Hope
Among the latest additions to the vault are 15 crop species from Sudan, including various varieties of sorghum, a plant crucial to the country’s food security and cultural heritage. Sudan’s decision to deposit these seeds comes at a time of extreme crisis, as the country faces one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters.
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The ongoing war between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began in April 2023, has devastated the nation. Tens of thousands of people have been killed, and more than 12 million have been displaced. Famine has gripped large parts of the country, with over half of Sudan’s population struggling with hunger and malnutrition.
“In Sudan, these seeds represent hope,” said the director of Sudan’s Agricultural Plant Genetic Resources Conservation and Research Centre, highlighting the importance of preserving native crops for future generations.
A Lifeline for Crisis-Stricken Nations
The Svalbard Seed Vault has played a vital role in safeguarding crop diversity, especially for nations affected by war. Between 2015 and 2019, it helped restore seed collections damaged during the Syrian civil war. The latest deposit underscores the vault’s continued relevance as a global food security safeguard.
Crop Trust Executive Director Stefan Schmitz emphasized the cultural and scientific significance of these seeds, stating, “The seeds deposited this week represent not just biodiversity, but also the knowledge, culture, and resilience of the communities that steward them.”
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In addition to Sudan’s seed samples, the latest deposit includes seeds from Nordic tree species from Sweden and rice from Thailand. These contributions further expand the genetic diversity stored within the vault, ensuring future generations have access to essential crop varieties.