Global Seed Vault , Arctic Circle

About 3mi (5km) northwest of Longyearbyen stands one of the most important global resources, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault (the Vault), housing a vast collection of seeds from around the world. This facility serves as a backup storage site for plant genetic material, ensuring the preservation of agricultural biodiversity for future generations. The seed vault safeguards crops against climate change, natural disasters, and human conflict.

The Vault's brainchild is American agriculturalist Cary Fowler, who conceived the idea in the 1980s. Working closely with British agriculturalist Geoffrey Hawtin and Danish plant scientist Bent Skovmand, he helped turn the vision into reality. With the support of the Norwegian government and the Crop Trust, the Vault officially opened in 2008.

The Vault has a distinctive above-ground structure that stands out in the Arctic landscape. The entrance is a striking, narrow passage rising 33ft (10m) above the ground. The structure tapers into the ground, disappearing beneath the mountain. Below the surface, the building extends 426ft (130m) underground into the mountain, where seeds of 90% of the world’s crops are stored in a secure, climate-controlled environment.

Through several security doors and down a long underground tunnel lies the heart of the Vault, where the temperature is kept at a steady -4°F (−20°C). In this cold, dry chamber, rows of commercial shelving hold sealed boxes deposited by international institutions from all over the world. More than 1.3 million seed varieties are currently stored here, representing over 6,300 species. These include everything from rice, wheat, and barley to millet, maise, and root vegetables. The seeds have come from every continent, with nearly three-quarters made up of grains, especially rice, with India contributing the largest collection. Legumes account for around 10-15%; the rest include fruits, vegetables, herbs, and other plants.

The packets are stored in airtight aluminium pouches and deposited under a “black box” agreement, meaning only the depositor can access or withdraw their seeds. The Vault doesn’t open, test, or use the seeds. It simply acts as a secure backup, much like a personal safety deposit box in a bank.

The Vault is one of the few places in the world where borders don’t matter. Seeds from countries that may not share diplomatic ties sit side by side on the shelves, stored with equal care. Everything here is done for the benefit of future generations, to protect the world’s food supply no matter what challenges lie ahead.