Morocco sends seeds to Svalbard 'Doomsday Vault' for global preservation

Morocco is participating in a global initiative to preserve plant diversity by sending seeds to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, often referred to as the "Doomsday Vault."

An informed source from the National Office for Grains and Legumes (ONICL) stated that this effort is part of a worldwide endeavor to establish a unique reserve of seeds that can be accessed when needed, even after thousands of years. The seeds are stored under highly controlled conditions, with precise temperature and humidity levels to ensure their long-term viability.

These plant varieties are retrieved when necessary or for hybridization to propagate them further, serving as a rare currency to maintain lineages. The process also documents the cultivation history of each type and the factors contributing to its current form. Morocco's participation is linked to its recognized quality seeds, which have yielded distinguished results.

The global seed bank in Norway, carved into a mountain in the Svalbard archipelago, is designed to protect humanity's food supply from natural or nuclear disasters. It holds over 1.3 million seed samples. Morocco's contribution, sent in 2020, is a strategic move to preserve its genetic resources for future use, including cross-pollination to develop new varieties.