Ukraine deposits 773 seed samples in Svalbard Global Seed Vault

Ukraine has deposited 773 seed samples into the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway to protect its agricultural heritage. This marks the country’s second deposit at the facility and its first since the escalation of the war in 2022.

The new shipment includes samples from ten different crops, such as barley, buckwheat, peas, mustard, and clover. These samples represent approximately 10% of Ukraine’s national seed collection, which contains over 154,300 samples covering 2,002 plant species.

Storing these duplicates internationally serves as a safeguard against the permanent loss of genetic material due to military operations or other disasters. The genetic diversity held in the vault is considered vital for future research, the development of resilient crops, and global food security in the face of climate change.