Opening of Svalbard Global Seed Vault

Excellencies, ladies, and gentlemen,

We are standing deep in the mountains of Svalbard. For thousands of years, this remote place has been in the grip of permafrost. But now, because of the vision, the courage and the initiative of scientists and politicians, these harsh conditions will now serve humanity - by providing secure storage for the seeds of the world.

Our biological diversity is under threat from the forces of nature; and it is under threat from the actions of man.

Species are being lost through natural disasters, through industrialization of agriculture, through war, through climate change…

Today we have carried the first seeds into this vault. Over the next 24 hours 268 000 seed samples will be placed on the shelves. In the next couple of years the number of samples will be doubled. And finally, we will have more than four million samples, all unique, all secure, here in Svalbard.

The Svalbard archipelago already serves the world as an important research centre where scientists work to understand how the climate is changing.

We need to respond to climate change not only through mitigating its causes, but also adapting to its effects.

Now Svalbard will help us to safeguard our food supply.
The Svalbard global seed vault is our insurance policy – an important resource with the potential to benefit all of humanity.

Now, if seeds are lost, hope is not lost. We will be able to start all over, starting here in Svalbard.

Thank you