Architectural Plan Revealed of Doomsday Arctic Seed Vault

“Noah’s Ark” for Seeds Designed to Outlast Major
Rise in Sea Level and Warming of Permafrost

OSLO, NORWAY (9 February 2007)—The Norwegian government has revealed the architectural design for the Svalbard International Seed Vault, to be carved deep into frozen rock on an island not far from the North Pole. The entrance to the “fail-safe” seed vault will “gleam like a gem in the midnight sun,” signaling a priceless treasure within: seed samples of nearly every food crop of every country. The vault is designed to protect the agricultural heritage of humankind—the seeds essential to agriculture of every nation.

 “This design takes us one step closer to guaranteeing the safety of the world’s most important natural resource,” said Dr. Cary Fowler, Executive Director of the Global Crop Diversity Trust, which will co-fund the vault’s operations and pay for the preparation and transport of seeds from all developing nations to the Arctic island of Svalbard. “Every day that passes we lose crop biodiversity. We must conserve the seeds that will allow agriculture to adapt to challenges such as climate change and crop disease. This design is as awesome physically as it is attractive aesthetically, and both are fitting tributes to the importance of the biological treasure to be stored there.”

 
Artist concept of vault design
(Drawing courtesy of The Global Crop Diversity Trust 2006 / Statsbygg)
 

Construction is slated to begin in March 2007 and to be completed in September 2007. The vault will officially open in late winter 2008.