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Inside the “Doomsday” Seed Vault

Located on an Arctic island, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault tries to protect humanity from agricultural devastation.

Inside the “Doomsday” Seed Vault
By Danylo Hawaleshka
Published On 20 Jun 2023

History Illustrated is a weekly series of insightful perspectives that puts news events and current affairs into historical context using graphics generated with artificial intelligence.

Halfway between Norway and the North Pole, buried into the side of a mountain on an archipelago with more polar bears than people, is a genetic repository built to prevent our own agricultural Armageddon.
Halfway between Norway and the North Pole, buried into the side of a mountain on an archipelago with more polar bears than people, is a genetic repository built to prevent our own agricultural Armageddon.
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Back on June 19, 2006, Nordic leaders laid the foundation stone for the $9 million Svalbard Global Seed Vault, which protects the seeds for the food we grow — making it arguably the world’s most important refrigerator.
Back on June 19, 2006, Nordic leaders laid the foundation stone for the $9 million Svalbard Global Seed Vault, which protects the seeds for the food we grow — making it arguably the world’s most important refrigerator.
Opened in 2008, the vault is run by Norway and has so far taken in 1.25 million seed samples from almost every country in the world, preserved for all humanity, at -18℃, for hundreds, maybe even thousands of years.
Opened in 2008, the vault is run by Norway and has so far taken in 1.25 million seed samples from almost every country in the world, preserved for all humanity, at -18℃, for hundreds, maybe even thousands of years.
The destabilising threats to global agriculture can seem endless, and include biodiversity loss, natural disasters and war, with the climate crisis, according to the U.N., front and centre.
The destabilising threats to global agriculture can seem endless, and include biodiversity loss, natural disasters and war, with the climate crisis, according to the U.N., front and centre.
In the 1800s, the U.S. had 7,100 named varieties of apples. Today, 6,800 of them are extinct.
In the 1800s, the US had 7,100 named varieties of apples. Today, 6,800 of them are extinct.
The Svalbard vault can help by preserving the genetic material of food seeds that one day may, for example, help genetically confer resistance to drought or pests. It also serves as a critical backup system.
The Svalbard vault can help by preserving the genetic material of food seeds that one day may, for example, help genetically confer resistance to drought or pests. It also serves as a critical backup system.
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In 2015, seeds from the Svalbard vault were used to restart the “International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas”, after its seed bank in Aleppo had to be abandoned because of the war in Syria.
In 2015, seeds from the Svalbard vault were used to restart the “International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas”, after its seed bank in Aleppo had to be abandoned because of the war in Syria.
Recently, a group of 50 scientists reported that Earth is warming at an “unprecedented rate”.
Recently, a group of 50 scientists reported that Earth is warming at an “unprecedented rate”.
In this desperate climate, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault stands out as an example of humanity working towards a greater good.
In this desperate climate, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault stands out as an example of humanity working towards a greater good.