Here, at the North Pole, the seeds of every single plant on earth are kept
The importance of this bank extends beyond the mere threat of natural disaster. Half of the seed banks in developing countries are at risk due to general instability. According to the bank’s executive director, Cary Fowler, the earth is losing a substantial amount of biodiversity “on a daily basis.” “The extinction of a seed variety signifies the loss of its unique traits, which could have been exploited in the future. Any of these varieties could potentially hold the key to resistance against certain pests or diseases, or possess exceptional heat resistance. These traits could prove invaluable in adapting to climate change.” Even a seemingly simple crop like wheat can have up to 200,000 varieties, each with a unique set of characteristics that dictate its response to temperature fluctuations, diseases, or pests.
“Even conservative climate change projections indicate that by mid-century, vast regions of Africa, for instance, will be grappling with a climate that contradicts their current farming methods. How will these countries adapt to this future climate? One potential solution lies in utilizing this rich seed repository to cultivate viable crops. This is crucial for the future of food security,” noted Fowler. Seeds with a short lifespan, like those of lettuce, can last up to 50 years. However, experimental findings suggest that other seeds – such as those of sorghum (a type of wheat) – can be safely stored for nearly 20,000 years.
The seed vault operates on the same principle as a bank safe. The bank owns the building, while the box and its contents belong to the depositor. Each depositor enters into a security agreement with NordGen, which acts on behalf of Norway. Depositors do not have access to others’ “safes”, and the database and depositors fall under the jurisdiction of NordGen.
The three storage rooms located at the back are sealed with airtight doors. Each room can accommodate roughly 1.5 million small seed packets. Monitoring is done electronically, with no employees stationed there on a daily basis.
The vault is capable of storing up to 4.5 million samples, all preserved at a temperature of -18°C. Even in the event of the preservation system failing, the natural Arctic climate will ensure the seeds remain viable for thousands of years.
The depositors bear no financial responsibility for this endeavor. The maintenance costs are covered by donations from foundations, businesses, and contributions from Norway itself. The annual operation cost amounts to $14 million. Although the bank’s sustainability is assured until 2020, the global financial crisis has impacted the flow of donations. The director, however, emphasizes the significance of this project, describing it as “the cheapest insurance policy imaginable for the planet’s most precious natural resource.”
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In the end, we cannot eat oil…
