The World’s Seed Vault

Svalbrad Global seed vault is located in Norway on the Island Spitsbergen, 810 miles from the North pole. The Facility preserves a wide range of seeds stored in an underground cavern. The seed vault provides insurance against seed loss in the event of a large scale regional or global crisis.

Lots of Countries have gene banks but this is the only seed vault, people can store seeds free of charge. The construction of the seed vault cost the Norwegian government 45 million dollars, Bill & Melinda Gates, UK, Norway, Australia, Switzerland, Sweden, Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, and India have provided funding for the vault.

The seed vault is constructed 390 ft inside a sandstone mountain, sitting 430 ft above ocean level. It contains numerous security systems, zero full time employees, a small office and two massive storage vaults. There is zero tectonic activity and plenty of perma -frost. The seeds are packed in special four-ply packets and heat sealed to exclude moisture.

On June 19, 2006,  the day it opened, it received 10,000 seed samples to be sealed and stored, 2,000 cultivars & 300 different species of plants. As of February  2008 approximately 1.5 million different seed samples have been stored. Each country may participate by adding seeds to its unit in the storage area. It is said that this seed vault can hold 4.5 million seed samples. During a feasibility study its shown that it could store seeds for hundreds of years, some say some grains and seed could be stored for a thousand years and maybe more.

Even with the seed vault being in Norway, Norway doesn’t claim ownership. There are  tons of seed banks, but to me it seems odd how they only feel the need to have  the one built to withstand the worst possible global event. Hmmm, seems like a good distraction or a clear message of what’s going to happen.

Plague Butcher

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