How many seed vaults are in the world?

1,700 seed vaults
Every growing season, farmers maintain our current varieties in their fields, while scientists use seed banks to help protect them for future needs. Among the more than 1,700 seed vaults across the globe, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault is the most well-known.

Where is the biggest seed vault in the world?

Svalbard Global Seed Vault
Way up north, in the permafrost, 1300 kilometers beyond the Arctic Circle, is the world’s largest secure seed storage, opened by the Norwegian Government in February 2008.

Who runs the Global Seed Vault?

The bank owns the building and the depositor owns the contents of his or her box. The Government of Norway owns the facility and the depositing genebanks own the seeds they send. The deposit of samples in Svalbard does not constitute a legal transfer of genetic resources.

How secure is the Global Seed Vault?

It has been called ‘the Noah’s Ark of plant diversity’. An apt description – had Noah’s Ark been built to also withstand asteroid impacts and nuclear bombs. The Global Seed Vault at Svalbard’s arctic archipelago is practically impenetrable and, unless you have actual business there, don’t expect to be allowed inside.

Is the Global Seed Vault a doomsday vault?

Though the vault is thought of as a “doomsday vault” that will be the source of seeds for the world after a worldwide disaster, that isn’t really true. “The seeds are not meant for distribution to farmers or gardeners,” said Fowler. “Their value and utility lies in their being a genetic resource in plant breeding.

Where is the Global Seed Vault in Norway?

The Global Seed Vault in Svalbald, Norway is arguably one of the most important facilities in the world, holding nearly a million samples of the world’s food seeds. Come see how this facility supports the world-wide movement to protect seed species from around the globe to help ensure future food security.

Where is the seed vault at the North Pole?

The vault is secured by four sets of locked doors, according to the Crop Trust. There are also the Svalbard archipelago’s most notorious security guards to consider. Located about 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) from the North Pole, the area surrounding the vault is extremely remote, secluded and home to a number of polar bears.

How many seeds are in the Svalbard Vault?

In total, the vault can handle about 2.5 billion seeds (or about 500 seeds each from about 4.5 million varieties of crops). You can learn more about the Svalbard Global Seed Vault and take a virtual tour of the underground facility by visiting the Crop Trust website.