On October 21, 2025, the Global Seed Vault on Svalbard was opened once again. More than 21,000 new samples from 20 international gene banks made their way into the frozen mountain above the airport of Longyearbyen. This brings the total number of seeds secured there to over 1.3 million — another milestone for the preservation of biological diversity and global food security.
A contribution to global food security
The research institution Agroscope from Switzerland and the Peruvian National Institute for Agrarian Innovation (INIA), together with 18 other countries, have deposited seed collections in the Global Seed Vault on Svalbard.
This step symbolizes their cooperation ahead of the 11th Session of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (GB-11), which will take place in Lima in November.
Kent Nnadozie, Secretary of the Treaty, emphasized that the Seed Vault is a symbol of interdependence and global cooperation aimed at safeguarding the foundation of our food — plant diversity — in the long term.
Photo: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
During the deposit ceremony, over 21,000 new seed samples from 20 gene banks were added. This brings the number of participating institutions to 131 and the total number of stored samples to more than 1.3 million.
Contribution from Switzerland and Peru
INIA deposited an extraordinary collection of native chili species originating from Peru. Archaeological findings show that chilies were already cultivated there around 12,000 years ago. INIA President Jorge Ganoza Roncal emphasized that his institution combines modern science with the traditional knowledge of local communities — in line with the goals of the International Treaty, which promotes equitable access to plant genetic resources.
From Switzerland came a diverse collection of cultivated plants, including a buckwheat collection from ETH Zurich with varieties of different origins — once an important staple food and now nearly forgotten. The deposit is intended to highlight the significance of this historic grain as well as Switzerland’s commitment to the preservation of plant diversity.
Marcel Schütz, Honorary Consul of Switzerland in Svalbard, emphasized that the genetic diversity of our food crops forms the basis of global food security while also being part of cultural heritage, and stated:
“Switzerland is honored to co-host GB-11 together with Peru… the decisions made there will be crucial for continuing to make important contributions to sustainable, innovative, and climate-resilient agriculture.”
Photo: Matthieu Zellweger / www.matthieuzellweger.com
Ausblick auf die GB-11 in Lima
The 11th Session of the Governing Body (GB-11) will take place from November 24 to 29, 2025, in Lima, Peru. Delegates and experts from around the world will discuss access to plant genetic resources, funding, and the equitable sharing of benefits.
Secretary Nnadozie stated that the recent deposits send a strong signal of shared responsibility: in the face of increasing climate risks, these actions demonstrate the solidarity of countries committed to safeguarding the foundations of future food security.
Honorary Consul Marcel Schütz further stated during the Global Seed Vault event…
“I would like to once again emphasize the tremendous importance of multilateral cooperation under the Treaty in order to jointly address the global challenges of food security, biodiversity loss, and climate change.”
Photo: Matthieu Zellweger / www.matthieuzellweger.com
Before the current delivery on October 21, 2025, Switzerland had deposited 11,321 seed samples from 74 different genera in Svalbard. With the latest six seed boxes (some shown at the top of the photo) containing a total of 921 new accessions, the total now amounts to 81 genera and 12,242 accessions, including cereal, herb, and vegetable crops, among others.
Projects in many countries in Africa supported by the Crop Trust’s Benefit-Sharing Fund, also took part in the recent deposit in Svalbard.
The Crop Trust Fund finances international initiatives that conserve plant genetic resources and promote the exchange of knowledge — regardless of a country’s economic strength.
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, also called the modern Noah’s Ark, has been operated by the Norwegian government since 2008. Jens Stoltenberg, then Prime Minister of Norway and former NATO Secretary General, traveled specially to attend the opening ceremony. The Seed Vault serves as a backup for global crop diversity. It is located about 1,300 kilometers from the North Pole and uses both permafrost and technical cooling to maintain a constant temperature of –18 °C. These conditions ensure the long-term storage of seeds for decades or even centuries.
Only samples that fall under the Multilateral System of the aforementioned International Treaty or specific agreements are allowed to be deposited.
This system enables the free exchange of 64 major food crop species, which account for the majority of global plant-based food consumption. Open access allows researchers to develop climate-resilient and disease-resistant varieties.
Take a virtual tour of the Seed Vault here here
“The Global Seed Vault – A Symbol of International Cooperation” – Marcel Schütz
In front of the Service Building of the Global Seed Vault. Photo: Matthieu Zellweger / www.matthieuzellweger.com
Rosamaria Kubny, PolarJournal