Who owns the Svalbard Global Seed Vault?
the Ministry of Agriculture and Food
What groups are involved in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault? The Seed Vault is owned and administered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food on behalf of the Kingdom of Norway and is established as a service to the world community.
Is there a seed bank in Antarctica?
Deep inside a mountain on a remote island in the Svalbard archipelago, halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole, lies the Global Seed Vault. It is a long-term seed storage facility, built to stand the test of time — and the challenge of natural or man-made disasters.
Why is the Svalbard seed vault located on Spitsbergen Island in Norway?
A seed vault has been built near the Norwegian town of Longyearbyen, which will preserve the biodiversity of our crops for future generations. It’s a sort of Noah’s Ark for plants, buried deep within the ice. This is the optimum temperature at which to store seeds so that they remain germinable.
How long do seeds last in the seed vault?
The seeds will be sealed in specially-designed four-ply foil packages that will be placed in sealed boxes and stored on shelves inside the vault. The low temperature and moisture level will ensure low metabolic activity, keeping the seeds viable for decades, centuries, or in some cases thousands of years.
Has there ever been a withdrawal from this seed vault?
Earlier this month (October 19, 2015), seeds deposited in 2012 from war-torn Syria became the Svalbard Global Seed Vault’s first-ever withdrawal. The seed vault – located in Norway, sometimes called the Doomsday Vault – was built in 2008. Now, researchers have taken 38,000 seeds back out of the vault.
Can a LSN become a regional seed network?
Violet Town LSN in Victoria did this too. The older LSNs can then become a Regional Seed Network. Each LSN has a coordinator, webpage and forum. Each LSN Coordinator organises meetings, events and keeps the members informed. He or she also administers the webpage which they monitor for comments, posts by members and offers or requests for seeds.
What can LSNS do for the local community?
Most LSNs have a system for swapping seeds, some have a seed bank that travels to events. Each has a LSN Coordinator, usually the person who established the group. Some LSNs have taken up projects, such as helping to start food gardens in a local school, or helping a community garden with seed saving programmes.
Who are the members of the Local SEED Network?
Local Seed Network members are gardeners who are keen to get their hands on tried and true local varieties, from both long-time locals and arrivistes. They want to know how to better save seeds, or otherwise propagate them. They also want to learn how to grow, cook and preserve what grows best locally.
What do LSN coordinators do for Seed Savers?
LSN Coordinators take responsibility for the light admin (the less the better) and the fun, such as inviting “Seed Savers” to their meetings. They may organise Christmas or Easter gatherings, solstice celebrations and even garden birthday parties.