Ukraine sends seeds to Norwegian vault

Ukraine is sending 773 seed samples to the Global Seed Vault in Norway, a facility maintained at -18 degrees Celsius. The samples include sunflower seeds, cereals, buckwheat, and other crops, representing 10 categories of plants. This is the first time since 2012 and the first time since the start of the Russian invasion in Ukraine that such a shipment has occurred. The Norwegian government announced the shipment on its official website.

Ukraine's agricultural resilience

Ukraine remains a major agricultural nation despite the ongoing war, with more than 51 million tons of cereal harvests in 2025. The country has a strong genetic collection of more than 154,000 samples representing some 2,000 species, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). However, this collection has been partially endangered since the start of the Russian invasion.

Damage to seed storage

The national conservation bank, initially located in Kharkiv, was severely damaged by Russian bombings in May 2022. At that time, more than 160,000 plants ready to be sown were destroyed, although the rest of the seeds were not too damaged. The collection was then transferred to the west of the country, away from the front, before part of it joined Norway last week, in the three cold and secure chambers that make up the Global Seed Vault.

Vault's secure design

The Global Seed Vault, built far from conflict zones and at an altitude that protects it from rising ocean levels, is designed to withstand disasters, even in the event of a failure in the refrigeration system, thanks to its location under permafrost (soil frozen year-round). The seeds are packaged in airtight containers, placed in boxes, and stored in secure chambers carved into the heart of a mountain. The temperature is maintained at -18 degrees to significantly slow their aging and preserve their ability to germinate for long periods.

Recent shipment details

The delivery on October 13 includes 10 categories of crops, including barley, millet, buckwheat, peas, white lupin, mustard, alfalfa, and clover. It also follows Ukraine's accession to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, which came into effect for the country on August 12.

Global Seed Vault's role

The Global Seed Vault, established in 2008 by the Norwegian government, now houses over 1.4 million seed samples from genetic banks around the world, according to the FAO. It includes varieties of wheat, rice, corn, barley, legumes, and many other cultivated plants. The objective is not to create a huge food stock to feed survivors of a planetary catastrophe, as the quantities stored would be far too insufficient. Rather, it is to preserve copies of genetic collections that can be used to rebuild crops or develop new varieties.

France's approach to seed preservation

France, despite being the leading agricultural power in the European Union, only keeps two varieties of ancient wheat in this global reserve. Unlike Ukraine, it prefers to preserve its genetic heritage on its own territory. The Inrae and its partners thus have about 200,000 plant genotypes, distributed in different facilities. This strategy allows the preservation of French agricultural biodiversity but relies much less on this international insurance against disasters.