Global Seed Vault in Norway preserves over 1.3 million seed varieties in secure facility

The Global Seed Vault in Svalbard, Norway, is a secure facility designed to preserve seeds from around the world. It currently holds over 1.3 million seed varieties, with a capacity for 4.5 million. Opened in 2008, the Vault is only accessible six times a year for new seed deposits. It is built deep into a mountain, maintaining a temperature of -18C to ensure seed preservation. The project is a collaboration between the Norwegian Government, the Crop Trust, and the Nordic Genetic Resource Centre. Countries maintain ownership of their seeds, which are stored under strict security measures.