In 2004, Norway was encouraged by an international research organisation to establish a reserve stock of seeds on Svalbard. The permafrost, a proper infrastructure and the trust that Norway has achieved as a bridge builder in the work on genetic resources made Svalbard a suitable location for such an installation.

Svalbard Global Seed Vault was completed in 2008. Situated at the foot of Platåfjellet in Longyearbyen, the vault has the capacity to store 4.5 million seed samples. The vault currently contains seed samples from over 4,000 plant species.

The vault also contains duplicate collections that will only be used if the seeds in national or regional gene banks are lost. This safeguards genetic material that is vital to global food safety. In 2015, Syria was the first country to receive seeds deposited in the vaults after the gene bank in Aleppo was damaged in the war and was no longer capable of cultivating seeds.

The entire seed vault has been located in blasted rock with a portable concrete building as the only visible exterior. A tunnel extends into the mountains to the cold and dry rock chambers. This originally comprised a steel pipe tunnel. However, the permafrost failed to surround the entrance. This led to water intrusion in the outer part of the tunnel in 2016.

The seeds in the vault were never at risk as a consequence of the water intrusion. In 2018, Statsbygg started renovating the access tunnel to the Seed Vault. The steel pipe was replaced by a stronger and waterproof concrete structure. Pre-insulated pipes surrounding and within the construction pit create an ice wall that helps the permafrost retain the desired temperature. Renovation of the access tunnel was completed in 2019.

As part of the renovation work, Snøhetta has designed a new technical building in rusting steel cladding outside the seed vault. Technical systems and other heat sources have been moved here. The building also contains a separate room for receiving and registering new seeds.

KEY INFORMATION

The seed vault

Contracting party: Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Client: Statsbygg
Architect: Barlindhaug Consult/Peter Sødermann
Consultants: Barlindhaug Consult and Multiconsult
Turnkey Contractor: Leonard Nilsen & Sønner
Cost estimate: NOK 48 million (2008)
Gross floor area: 1370 m2
Completion: 2008

Renovation project

Contracting party: Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Users: Nordgen and Global Crop Diversity Trust
Client: Statsbygg
Architect: Snøhetta
Consultants: Dr. tech Olav Olsen AS
General contractor: Hæhre Arctic AS
Completion: 2019
Cost estimate: NOK 190 million

TIMELINE

2005: Statsbygg is commissioned to conduct a feasibility study into establishing a global seed vault on Svalbard.
2006: The Norwegian Parliament approves construction.
2008: The seed vault is completed.
2015: Syria becomes the first country to receive deposited seeds from the vault after the gene bank in Aleppo was damaged in the war and was no longer capable of cultivating seeds.
2016: Major water intrusion in the access tunnel. Remedial measures implemented immediately.
2018: Statsbygg commences renovation of the access tunnel.
2019: The renovation work is completed.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Hege Njaa Aschim
Director of communications
Phone: +47 913 70 172
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