What’s Hidden in the Seed Vault in Svalbard?

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, known as the "Noah's Ark of Seeds," is a hidden gem on Norway's Spitsbergen Island. For a modest $8.8 million, this vault stores duplicate seeds from genebanks worldwide, serving as a crucial safeguard for our global food supply. It acts as an insurance policy against a range of threats, from mismanagement to natural disasters.

What makes this vault truly exceptional is its strategic location deep within a mountain, maintaining a frigid -18°C temperature through refrigeration units. Even in the event of equipment failure, the surrounding permafrost would keep the seeds viable for weeks or even months.

Since its opening in 2008, the vault has garnered acclaim as one of Time's Best Inventions. Today, it preserves nearly 1.2 million seed varieties, with the capacity to hold an astounding 2.5 billion seeds, each accession representing a specific plant variety. This unassuming vault, with its ingenious engineering and location, is humanity's assurance that our planet's plant diversity will thrive for generations to come.

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