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- NordGen Farm Animals
  NordGen Farm Animals is a service and knowledge center working to conserve and promote a sustainable management of the diversity of animal genetic resources found in the Nordic region.
- NordGen Forest
  NordGen Forest is a meeting place that brings together researchers, breeders, managers and others who work within the forest sector with the aim to enable better cooperation and promote genetic diversity in the Nordic forests.
- NordGen Plants
  NordGen Plants is responsible for the Nordic seed collection and operates within several different projects aiming at securing the genetic diversity among our crops.
- Seed and Potato Requests
  Each year, NordGen distributes more than 10 000 seed samples to researchers, plant breeders and other stakeholders. Hobby growers can also order seed samples.
- The Nordic Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for Pre-breeding
  NordGen is the secretariat for the Nordic PPP-collaboration where public and private stakeholders join forces to develop the Nordic agriculture.
- Svalbard Global Seed Vault
  Svalbard Global Seed Vault is the largest backup facility for the world's crop diversity. NordGen is responsible for the seed handling in the Seed Vault.
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- Organisation
  NordGen is an institution under the Nordic Council of Ministers, working as a gene bank and knowledge center to promote sustainable use and conservation of genetic resources within plants, farm animals and forestry. We are more than 30 highly qualified employees from all the Nordic countries. NordGen is organized under the Nordic Council of Ministers…
- Privacy Policy
  On this page you can read more about in which situations NordGen collects and processes personal information in different situations. Our aim is to make sure that you are always informed about how we process your data and feel comfortable about contacting us if you have any questions or complaints. NordGen’s is processing all personal…
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- International Collaboration
  During the 1960s, the realization that biological and genetic diversity was diminishing spread. Since then, genebanks have been established, genetic resources mapped and international agreements signed to try to reverse the trend. But genetic resources do not follow the boundaries drawn on a map. Preserving genetic resources is an international effort, so NordGen often works…
- Accessibility
  The website nordgen.org is the platform presenting the work of the Nordic Genetic Resource Centre (NordGen). It is important to NordGen that the information available on our web site is accessible to everyone and that you can easily find what you are looking for. This is an ongoing work so do not hesitate to contact…
- Career at NordGen
  Working at NordGen means working for future generations. As a NordGen employee, you share our vision of a society where a diversity of genetic resources leads to sustainable solutions. With us, garden engineers, scientists, economists, plant experts and many other professional groups work with the common goal of preserving and promoting sustainable use of genetic…
- Information for Media
  Welcome to NordGen’s press room with press releases, photos and videos from our work. We are happy to receive visits and interview requests from media representatives. The work carried out at NordGen is a matter for the entire Nordic population, as sustainable conservation and utilization of our genetic resources are a prerequisite for our future…
- Gender Equality Policy
  NordGen is to be a working place where both men, women and non-binary can thrive and progress professionally. Our belief is that a working place with gender balance will lead to a more creative and stimulating working environment. At NordGen, we find it important that both male and female perspectives are permeating the way we…
- Contact
  Main Office and NordGen Plants The Main office and NordGen Plants are located on the campus of the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Alnarp. Alnarp is situated between Malmö and Lund in southern Sweden. Phone: +46 40 536 640 E-mail: info@nordgen.org Address: Växthusvägen 12, 234 56 Alnarp NordGen Farm Animals NordGen Farm Animals is…
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- Menyval
- Statement on Water Intrusion at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is the world’s backup for crop collections. It currently safeguards more than 930,000 different varieties. It has been reported that the Seed Vault has seen water intrusion due to melting permafrost. The Royal Ministry of Agriculture and Food in Norway,…
- Statement on Water Intrusion at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is the world’s backup for crop collections. It currently safeguards more than 930,000 different varieties. It has been reported that the Seed Vault has seen water intrusion due to melting permafrost. The Royal Ministry of Agriculture and Food in Norway,…

Home > News > Svalbard Global Seed Vault > All seeds are safe

All seeds are safe

Date: 2017.05.23

Statement on Water Intrusion at the Svalbard Global Seed Vault.

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is the world’s backup for crop collections. It currently safeguards more than 930,000 different varieties. It has been reported that the Seed Vault has seen water intrusion due to melting permafrost. The Royal Ministry of Agriculture and Food in Norway, the Crop Trust, and NordGen would like to assure seed depositors and the public that the seeds are completely safe and no damage has been done to the facility. The Royal Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Statsbygg, Norway, is taking appropriate measures to ensure the protection of the Seed Vault and improve the construction to prevent future incidents. Globally, the Seed Vault is, and will continue to be, the safest backup of crop diversity.

Signed

Pål Vidar Sollie, Director General, The Royal Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Norway

Marie Haga, Executive Director, The Crop Trust

Lise Lykke Steffensen, Executive Director, NordGen

Hege Njaa Aschim, Director of Communications, Statsbygg, Norway

Construction improvements

In order to prevent water from coming into the entrance of the Seed Vault construction in the future, Statsbygg, which is the Norwegian government’s property manager and developer, have started on a series of measures and building operations and improvements; removal of heart sources, drainage measures and a new watertight wall. More details about ongoing work can be found on Statsbyggs webpages.