Bridges Trade BioRes • Volume 5 • Number 13 • 8th July 2005
Norway to Establish Agricultural Seed Bank
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On 23 June, Norway announced it will be establishing an agricultural seed bank on its remote Svalbard Islands in the Arctic to support global food security. The goal is to protect valuable food genetic resources against plant diseases and the effects of climate change, wars, natural disasters and other factors that impact on seed biodiversity. Genetic copies of seeds already stocked in depositories elsewhere in the world will be stored in the new depository, thereby providing an additional safety net for the world’s food supply. While ownership of genetic plant material has long been a sensitive issue, the Norwegian government has said international agreements have been signed ensuring proper management of the Arctic seed depository.The Svalbard Islands, 300 miles north of the mainland, were selected for their remote location and permafrost - the cold climate will allow seeds to retain their ability to germinate for a long time. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food will co-operate to establish the depository in 2006.
“Arctic seed depository for world food security,” NORWAY MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, 23 June 2005; “Norway Plans Seed Bank to Safeguard Food Biodiversity,” ENS, 27 June 2005; “Norway to Establish Agricultural Seed Bank,” BUSINESS WEEK ONLINE, 23 June 2005.
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