Svalbard Global Seed Vault Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize

Over the years, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault has become a well‑known symbol of the importance of safeguarding plant genetic resources that help secure future global food supplies. But the wedge‑shaped building is also frequently highlighted in contexts related to international cooperation. Now, the Seed Vault has additionally been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Norwegian media recently reported that Norwegian politician Geir Pollestad, Member of Stortinget (Sp) and former Minister of Agriculture and Food, has nominated the Svalbard Global Seed Vault for the Nobel Peace Prize, together with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), NordGen, the Crop Trust, and CGIAR. In his statement to the Nobel Committee, Pollestad motivated the nomination by emphasising that food security is a fundamental prerequisite for peace in a time marked by climate change, natural disasters and conflict.

"Food and food preparedness are such important parts of peacebuilding," Pollestad told Svalbardposten, which first reported the news.

Foundation for Stability and Peace

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is the world's largest safety backup facility for seeds representing the world's crop diversity. Since 2008, the Seed Vault has offered free storage of seed duplicates maintained by international, national, and regional genebanks as well as institutions and organisations. At present, the Seed Vault holds more than 1.3 million seed samples from 132 institutions. On the ice‑cold shelves, seed boxes sent from all over the world is placed side by side. Boxes from Israel or North Korea may end up next to seed samples from genebanks based in South Korea or Palestine. Already in 2009, during his visit to the Seed Vault, then UN Secretary‑General Ban Ki‑moon referred to the initiative as "a symbol of peace."

Woman outside, mountain in the background.
Lene Krøl Andersen, NordGen's Executive Director.

"We are all very honoured by this nomination. The Seed Vault is a clear symbol of international cooperation. Secure access to a diversity of genetic resources is not only an issue for agriculture and research – it is also a foundation for stability, resilience and, ultimately, peace," says NordGen’s Executive Director Lene Krøl Andersen.

Facts: Svalbard Global Seed Vault

  • The Seed Vault is operated in a partnership between the Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Crop Trust and NordGen.
  • The next seed deposit is planned for week 25 in June.
  • The Seed Portal database contains information about what is stored in the Seed Vault.