Since then, researchers there have been storing containers of seeds. Proposed items to go in this bunker include seeds, spores, sperm and egg samples from various Earth species, according to scientists. Scientists want to create an underground structure to store materials that can save us in case of an apocalypse -style situation. But do take some solace in the fact that it can be ready if we do our work properly. The seed vault - located in Norway, sometimes called the Doomsday Vault - was built in 2008. The moon is a proposed location for a vault. Fowler said the program will lower the threat of worldwide hunger.Ĭary Fowler: Don’t make the assumption that agriculture is ready for climate change or ready to feed a world growing population. Fowler’s organization helps to plant and harvest the seeds, and the new seeds will be stored in seed banks including the Svalbard Global Seed Vault – known as the Doomsday Vault – near the North Pole. The best, most efficient, greenest way to do that is to use the natural diversity that really exists.įowler said that currently these seeds are stored in unstable conditions, while losing their ability to grow. Plant breeders combine the genetic traits of different crops to create varieties that can overcome heat, drought, and pests in farmers’ fields.Ĭary Fowler: We can’t assume that agriculture will simply be more and more productive because we want it to be more productive, we have to do something to make it more productive. Seeds include rare varieties of wheat, grains, corn, and yams, among others. EarthSky spoke to Cary Fowler, executive director of the Global Crop Diversity Trust, at a science meeting in early 2009.Ĭary Fowler: In the next 2 years, we’re going to rescue from extinction about 100 thousand unique varieties of agricultural crops. They conducted a feasibility study in 2004 and concurred that Svalbard was an appropriate location for long-term storage. A large and ambitious saving seeds from extinction program aims to safeguard the future of global agriculture. A team led by conservationist Cary Fowler, in association with CGIAR, 10 actively campaigned for the development of the Seed Vault and approached the Norwegian Government.
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