A 'doomsday vault' has received a new delivery of crop seeds to preserve forever.
As the name suggests, the vault functions exactly as you'd expect. Located 430 feet underground on Norway’s Svalbard archipelago, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault was established in 2008 as a last-resort backup for the world's crops.
It was set up in 2008 to protect plant species from war, climate disasters and disease, ensuring that if catastrophe ever strikes, humanity will still have access to vital seeds needed for food production.
Currently, it contains more than 1.3 million seeds from around the world and an additional 14,000 samples are now being delivered. The latest deposit includes Nordic tree species from Sweden and rice from Thailand, according to the Crop Trust, the organisation responsible for managing the vault.
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"The seeds deposited this week represent not just biodiversity, but also the knowledge, culture and resilience of the communities that steward them," said Stefan Schmitz, executive director of the Crop Trust.
The seeds are stored in custom-made foil packages and sealed in boxes, before they're placed on shelves within the temperature-controlled chambers of the vault.
To maintain their integrity, the chambers are only opened three times a year to minimise exposure to the outside environment.
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Obviously, a place like this needs to be hidden and protected at all costs. For that reason, the vault is not open to the public.
The only way to visit in person is through an organised trip to the entrance with a guide. Or, another exception, is if you are bringing seeds to contribute to the collection. Though, I imagine it can't just be any seeds.
Most farmers are looking for seed types that produce plants adapted to the current growing conditions like climate.
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These plants must also be resilient against pests and diseases while delivering high yields and good quality harvests.
Fortunately, there's a way to still see the vault - from the comfort of your own home.
The virtual tour of the facility allows the public to take a look inside what the vault's official website calls 'the most important room in the world.'
Already, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault has played an important role in global agriculture.
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Between 2015 and 2019, it helped restore damaged seed collections in Syria where war had devastated agricultural research centres.
Moreover, the vault isn't just about preserving its current stock.
Scientists are using the seeds' genetic diversity and DNA to research and develop new plant varieties- ones that could potentially thrive in future Earth conditions.