Svalbard Global Seed Vault: A global insurance policy

Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Lars Peder Brekk, the Norwegian Minister of Agriculture and Food held the opening speech at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault First Anniversary Seminar in Longyearbyen today. He emphasized that climate change will affect agriculture, and how the world can use plant genetic resources to be prepared. 

• Read the whole Opening speech here

- Right now, our world faces an unprecedented challenge - a challenge that threatens the quality of life on every continent. I am talking about climate change.  - As science tries to keep up with the looming threats of changing climates and weather patterns, increasing temperatures and melting ice caps, we here in Svalbard are well aware that the most important use of crop diversity in the coming decades will be helping agriculture adapt to these changes, says Lars Peder Brekk.

• See the program for The Anniversary Seminar  (pdf, 137 kb)

Svalbard Global Seed Vault: - We need to increase the focus on plant breeding activities in developing countries with a special attention on the interest of poor farmers, says Lars Peder Brekk, The Norwegian Minister of Agriculture and Food.Photo: J. Cendon/FAO 

Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Lars Peder Brekk, the Norwegian Minister of Agriculture and Food held the opening speech at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault First Anniversary Seminar in Longyearbyen today.