The 2020 Svalbard Seed Summit – Genetic diversity for more resilient food systems
The global community has committed to end hunger by 2030 and has identified genetic diversity
as an important target. Most food production starts with a seed, whether the crop is consumed by
humans or as feed to farmed animals. Major reports in recent years stress the need for genetic
diversity.
The Seed Vault inspires world leaders to champion the safeguarding of the world’s seeds
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault received the largest seed deposit since its 2008 opening on February 24, 2020. In recognition of the importance of this deposit, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg invited fellow members of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Advocacy Group to participate in the seed deposit, and then to attend the Svalbard Seed Summit to prepare and present an Arctic Call to Action on Food Security and Climate Change. The members who attended braved an arctic snow storm and temperatures of 20°C to cheer on representatives of 28 genebanks who were depositing their seeds in the Seed Vault.
Cherokee Nation safeguards its seeds in the Seed Vault
The Cherokee Nation – both its people and its tradition – were part of the 24 February seed deposit at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, making it the first US-based tribe to safeguard its culturally important seeds in the Seed Vault. The deposit included the Cherokee Nation’s indigenous maize, beans and squash seeds. The Cherokee Nation also has its own seed bank, which was inspired by the Svalbard Global Seed Vault and now provides seeds to tribal citizens who are interested in growing traditional Cherokee crops.
First time deposits of seeds primarly maintained in natural meadows
For the first time, seeds of species maintained in situ in meadows have been deposited in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault.
Seed Deposit 2020
Svalbard Global Seed Vault will receive its first major seed deposit since the completion of a 20 million Euro technical upgrade of the facility by the Norwegian Government. The event, will also be attended by members of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Advocacy Group, appointed by the UN Secretary-General. It will be cochaired by Norway’s Prime Minister, Erna Solberg, and President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
First Slovak seeds deposited in Seed Vault
This time of year, the last rays of sun give Svalbard a magical blue light. And both the Slovak and Norwegian Ministers of Agriculture could enjoy it as they attended the first ever Slovak seed deposit. The seeds from the Slovak genebank were in good company as they were carried into Svalbard Global Seed Vault along with seeds from Poland, Sudan and ICARDA.
“New chapter in history” as Poland signs depositor’s agreement
The Polish flag next to the Norwegian, thick agreement papers and a room full of anticipation. As the head of the Polish Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute (IHAR) recently signed the depositor’s agreement, IHAR became institution number 77 to join the Svalbard Global Seed Vault depositors’ family. The first box containing 406 seed samples is now on its way to Svalbard.
Seed Vault named one of the 50 most influential projects
The organisation Project Management Institute has named Svalbard Global Seed Vault the 10th most influential project during the last 50 years. The Seed Vault is recognised “for building the ultimate insurance policy for the world’s food supply”.
Withdrawal of ICARDA Aleppo seeds accomplished
By mid-August, the third and last part of the seeds deposited by the ICARDA gene bank in Aleppo, Syria were taken out of the Seed Vault and sent back to ICARDA units in Morocco and Lebanon. The total deposit from Aleppo during the years 2008 – 2014 constituted 116,484 seed samples and all these are now safely returned.
Second seed deposit from SPGRC this year
After depositing 1158 new seeds accessions this week, the SPGRC gene bank has secured in total 5244 seed samples in the Seed Vault.
“We will during the coming six months send even more seeds to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault”, says Ms. Sthembiso Mbhele, who quite recently has taken over the responsibility for the SPGRC Ex-Situ Conservation Program.