International collaboration

NordGen collaborates with genebanks, research organizations and pre-breeding, and breeding centers at both the Nordic and global levels. We participate in extensive international collaboration within the framework of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Bioversity International. We also have the responsibility for the day-to-day operation and management of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault and organize deposits in the Vault in collaboration with the depositing genebanks and the Global Crop Diversity Trust.

NordGen has several projects that aim to develop and support gene bank management in other countries. Most of these projects are financially supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency - SIDA.

The Baltic countries
NordGen supports the Baltic Gene Bank cooperation by managing documentation and servers.

Southern Africa
Within the framework of SADC  (Southern African Development Community) and its program for conserving plant genetic resources in Southern Africa, NordGen provides education in genebank management, including seed handling, regeneration and database documentation.

Central Asia
In Central Asia NordGen participates in setting up and developing genebanks in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Svalbard Global Seed Vault

Inspired by NordGen's safety store in an old coal-mine at Svalbard, Bioversity International  and FAO  (Food and Agriculture Organization) contacted the Norwegian authorities with the idea of establishing a global seed vault. This was the first step towards the opening of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault  (SGSV) in 2008. The Vault serves as the ultimate safety net for one of the world's most important natural resources - seeds of the world's most important crops.

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is owned by the Norwegian Government. The management of the Vault is divided according to a tripartite agreement between the Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture and Food , the Global Crop Diversity Trust  and NordGen. The Global Diversity Trust co-funds the operations of the Vault and funds the shipment of seeds from developing countries to Svalbard.

NordGen is responsible for the day-to-day operation and management of the Vault and organizes deposits in the Seed Vault in collaboration with depositing genebanks and the Global Crop Diversity Trust.

Birch in spring.Photo: Simon Jeppson/NordGen

Read more

 about the Svalbard Global Seed Vault .

Contact

Karin Bäcklund, tel. +46 40 536553