From the idea behind a global backup to the details of its construction, here’s everything
you need to know about the Doomsday Vault.
Number 10 What Is It?
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, commonly known as the “Doomsday Vault”, is a facility
that houses a vast number of plant seeds in case of a global catastrophe.
The vault is a type of backup for humanity, which enables it to still have access to crucial
resources even in its darkest hour.
It was built in a remote part of Norway and designed to withstand both natural and man-made
disasters.
Number 9 Why Was It Built?
In 1996, after many negotiations, 150 countries adopted the first Global Plan of Action for
conserving and using crop diversity.
The Svalbard vault was born out of that initiative.
American agriculturalist Cary Fowler, the man who frequently supervised the negotiations,
was instrumental in its creation.
The idea of a genebank to hold a collection of food crops didn’t originate with the
Svalbard seed vault.
There are over 1,750 such facilities all-over the world but the Norway vault is both the
largest and the safest.
Although mostly hailed as a doomsday safety net, the Svalbard vault also acts as a backup
for other genebanks, many of which are exposed to natural calamities and war.
For example, the national seed bank of the Philippines was damaged by floods and later
consumed by a fire.
Similar facilities in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan have been completely lost.
The Svalbard vault ensures that plant seeds are still accessible in cases of global and
regional crisis.
It’s also a safety net for future generations which might face challenges such as climate
change and overpopulation.
Before we move on, answer this question.
What is the Arctic World Archive? a.
A storage space b.
A computer program c.
An encyclopedia d.
A communications satellite Let us know what you think in the comments
section below and stay tuned to find out the right answer.
Number 8 When Was It Built?
During a ceremony in June, 2006, the prime ministers of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland
and Denmark laid the first stone.
The building cost was entirely supported by the Norwegian government and amounted to roughly
$9 million.
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault was officially opened in February 2008 and received its first
seeds in January of that same year.
Number 7 Where Is It Located?
The vault is located inside a mountain on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, which
is part of the remote Arctic Svalbard archipelago.
The sandstone mountain that houses the seed vault is known as “Platåberget” which
translates as “Plateau Mountain”.
It’s the farthest north anyone can fly on a scheduled flight, meaning that it’s still
accessible despite its remoteness.
The location is roughly 800 miles from the North Pole.
Number 6 Ownership and Access Management of the seed vault is shared between
the Norwegian government, the Nordic Genetic Resource center, or NordGen, and an international
non-profit organization called Crop Trust.
The seed vault operates under a “black box” arrangement, like a safe deposit box in a
bank.
Norway owns the bank but claims no ownership over the contents of the seed deposit.
The samples can only be accessed by the depositor under the terms of a treaty approved by 118
countries.
NordGen maintains the database of samples and depositors.
The Crop Trust handles most of the yearly operating costs while also assisting genebanks
from other countries in packaging and sending seeds to the vault.
The facility accepts funding from private foundations and various governments worldwide.
One of its largest contributors is the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Number 5 Has It Been Used?
As of the making of this video, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault has only been used once.
Because of the Syrian Civil War, ICARDA, the International Center for Agricultural Research
in Dry Areas, had lost access to its seed bank in Aleppo.
In 2015, ICARDA was the first depositor to make a withdrawal from the bank.
This consisted of several samples of wheat, lentil, chickpea and others, to be used at
work sites in Lebanon and Morocco.
Many of the seeds have reportedly been re-deposited since.
Number 4 Storage The samples are kept at a temperature of -0.4
Fahrenheit in three-ply foil packages that are heat-sealed to prevent moisture.
Even though the facility is surrounded by permafrost, refrigeration units further cool
the storage rooms so they reach the international temperature standard.
Each sample is made up of about 500 seeds which are sealed in an airtight aluminum bag.
They're then deposited in plastic containers on metal shelving racks.
Because the seeds are kept at low temperatures and have limited oxygen exposure, their aging
process is slowed down.
Priority is given to crops that play a key role in sustainable agriculture and food production.
As of the making of this video, Norwegian law prohibits the deposit of genetically modified
seeds in the Svalbard vault.
Number 3 Design The vault has three rooms and a total floor
space of roughly 11,000 square feet.
Even with half of its first room filled, it still holds the largest seed collection in
the world.
The vault can store up to 4.5 million samples, each containing 500 seeds.
As of the making of this video the vault holds nearly 1 million samples.
The roof and vault entrance are filled with mirrors, prisms and highly reflective stainless
steel.
The materials are part of an illuminated artwork called “Perpetual Repercussion”, by artist
Dyveke Sanne, meant to emphasize the importance of Arctic light.
Because of the reflective materials, the vault’s entrance can be seen from afar.
During summertime it reflects Arctic light and in the winter months, it’s illuminated
by a network of 200 fiber-optic cables.
Number 2 Security Remote location is not the only means by which
the vault’s contents are protected.
It also has a complex internal security protocol.
There are cameras and sensors throughout the facility.
Access to the seeds is achieved through several locked doors, which employ various security
checks.
Polar bears that prowl the mountain outside provide an added form of natural protection.
So, what is the Arctic World Archive?
The right answer is a, a storage space.
Located inside an abandoned coal mine on Svalbard, it does for information what the vault does
for plants.
The Arctic World Archive was opened in March 2017 and provides a secure space for the world’s
digital heritage and valuable data.
Information is stored as code on reels of film and has a life-expectancy of hundreds
of years.
When all other systems fail, the archive will be the backup.
Number 1 Durability The Svalbard Global Seed Vault has certain
features that enable it to preserve major food crops for up to hundreds of years.
Some samples, including the most important grains, could potentially remain viable for
millennia.
From its entrance, the vault extends more than 400 feet into the mountain.
The facility is surrounded by permafrost.
Even if electrical systems fail, it would take nearly two centuries before the encasing
sandstone bedrock would reach 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
The vault is located 430 feet above sea level, which will keep it safe even if the ice caps
melt.
Additionally, the area lacks tectonic activity and humidity levels are low.
The Svalbard archipelago has also been declared demilitarized by 42 nations.
That being said, the Global Seed Vault can survive nuclear war as well as a number of
natural disasters.
Should such catastrophes fall upon the world, the vault is one of humanity’s best hopes
for survival.
Thanks for watching!
In case of a global disaster, would you rather wait it out in an underground facility on
Earth or embark on a space ark heading towards another planet?
Let us know in the comments section below!