Humankind could become extinct if we lost our supply of seeds for crops and animal fodder. This could come about as a result of natural or man-made disasters, Crop Trust advises. The trust’s “sole mission is to ensure humanity conserves and makes available the world’s crop diversity for future food security.” Moreover it is achieving this goal at its Svalbard Global Seed Vault halfway between Norway and the North Pole.
We Built This Global Seed Vault to Stand the Test of Time
The Global Seed Vault is on the island of Spitzbergen that was the site of a mighty battle during World War 2. The Norwegian government installed the vault deep into the mountainside in 1994. It offers free frozen seed-storage facilities to the world’s nations. Various countries and foundations fund the operating costs.
Higher than average temperatures partly melted the ice in 2016 following which unusually heavy rainfall caused water intrusion. Fortunately this only advanced 50 feet down the tunnel before freezing. The seeds were safely packed in special three-ply foil packets, and heat sealed to exclude moisture. Hence they were quite secure 390 feet inside the sandstone mountain. Electricity comes from local island coal.
Proven, Safe Secure Storage in Nature’s Freezer
“Something as mundane as a poorly functioning freezer could otherwise ruin an entire collection” Crop Trust warns. “And the loss of a crop variety is as irreversible as the extinction of a dinosaur, animal or any form of life.”
They believe the permafrost and thick rock surrounding the Global Seed Vault will help keep the seeds frozen without electricity if need be. We hope they prove right when they speak of millions of seeds sleeping peacefully for centuries, despite global warming.
If the energy supply fails, then the surrounding bedrock should take two centuries to warm to 0 °C (32 °F) under current climatic conditions.
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Preview Image: Svalbard Beacon of Light in Darkness
